39 replies to this topic

[Zthomase]

Moving this post from the "mounts" section to classic telescopes

 

I found an interesting telescope mount for super cheap. I am curious if anyone has seen anything similar or knows the manufacturer. The machine parts look too nice to me to be homemade, but I could be wrong. Thanks for looking! 

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[Zthomase]

More photos:

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[CHASLX200]

HOME MADE SLADE.

[Zthomase]

HOME MADE SLADE.

Agree the tripod base looks homemade. There are some cast parts that look manufactured to me, also there is a sign of a nameplate but its now missing.  

[CHASLX200]

Nothing i have seen for sale and looks 1950's made.

[clamchip]

Wow that is really different, I don't recognize anything.

Measure the screw thread sizes and at least we will know which part of the world it's from.

 

Robert

[jimeh]

I thought it was homemade also, but the micro adjustment for altitude and the slotted holes for azimuth adjustment seem too professional. The pendant RA gear is very unusual. The worm assembly sort of looks like the Fecker gearing

 

 

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[ccwemyss]

With the altitude fine adjustment using a fixed pin, I wonder if it was built for (by?) an observatory at a specific latitude for a fixed mounting, with just a modest range for alignment. The castings look professional. The pedestal and saddle look like later amateur modifications to make it portable and to accept a different instrument. 

 

Chip W. 

[starman876]

the pedestal looks home made.  The rest looks like it was made in a machine shop.   

[Zthomase]

Wow that is really different, I don't recognize anything.

Measure the screw thread sizes and at least we will know which part of the world it's from.

 

Robert

That’s a great idea! I just ordered a 5gal pail of evaporust. Hopefully that will free things up. 

[Zthomase]

With the altitude fine adjustment using a fixed pin, I wonder if it was built for (by?) an observatory at a specific latitude for a fixed mounting, with just a modest range for alignment. The castings look professional. The pedestal and saddle look like later amateur modifications to make it portable and to accept a different instrument. 

 

Chip W. 

That actually makes a lot of sense. Wealth of knowledge here! Thank you.

[Tom Stock]

It looks like possibly a mix of professionally made parts perhaps for an observatory refractor, then later cut down and converted to an amateur mount for a small reflector.

 

This is a very solid looking mount! Very neat.

[Tom Stock]

Wondering how the friction clutches worked.

[Kasmos]

Reviewing it, I believe it's really old and except for the pier and legs proffessionally made. My guess is maybe early 20th century. Being made of cast iron and the capstan bolts on the pier cap/mount are clues to it's age. The missing badge probably makes it a pro made mount as well.

 

Well, after writting that I had a hunch because it reminded me of some of the details on some scopes made by T. Cooke & Sons.

 

First I thought it had a few similarities with Peter Ceravolo's 4" 

 

Then I found this 

Very close, not exact, but very promising

 

Then the two below

The DEC controls are more complex on this example

 

1876 Wooster College 5"

Your DEC controls are more like this one

https://observatorie...ege-of-wooster/

 

Going back to Peter's Thread I noticed how much some of the parts are similar as well.

Like the half RA gear and saddle

 

Check this and the post following it to see what I mean

https://www.cloudyni...tor/?p=10112899

 

This is a detail of the drawing in post #97

This one also has the more complex DEC controls

 

 

 

Congratulations, you have a Cooke Mount!

and quite possibly from the late 1800s

Edited by Kasmos, 27 February 2025 - 03:00 AM.

[NinePlanets]

You know, many of the telescope "home-makers" have very nice machine shops at home, and always have.

 

"Home made" is NOT synonymous with "junky bits of pipes and plywood".

 

I would venture that many "home made" telescopes far exceed the sophistication of "manufactured" items. It is the amateurs who have the time and desire, and some of them are exceptional.

[Sean Cunneen]

Can you measure the angle ? That will offer some clue as to where it was used

[jimeh]

Reviewing it, I believe it's really old and except for the pier and legs proffessionally made. My guess is maybe early 20th century. Being made of cast iron and the capstan bolts on the pier cap/mount are clues to it's age. The missing badge probably makes it a pro made mount as well.

 

Well, after writting that I had a hunch because it reminded me of some of the details on some scopes made bt T. Cooke & Sons.

 

First I thought it had a few similarities with Peter Ceravolo's 4" 

 

Then I found this 

Cooke-GEM.jpg

Very close, not exact, but very promising

 

Then the two below

Cooke-Brass-Gem.jpg

The DEC controls are more complex on this example

Cooke-Wooster.jpg

1876 Wooster College 5"

Your DEC controls are more like this one

https://observatorie...ege-of-wooster/

 

Going back to Peter's Thread I noticed how much some of the parts are similar as well.

Like the half RA gear and saddle

 

Check this and the post following it to see what I mean

https://www.cloudyni...tor/?p=10112899

 

Cooke-GEM-Drawing.jpg

This is a detail of the drawing in post #97

This one also has the the more complex DEC controls

 

 

 

Congratulations, you have a Cooke Mount!

and quite possibly from the late 1800s

Incredible sleuthing!

 

OP should go back to the source and look for the missing refractor

Edited by jimeh, 26 February 2025 - 07:11 PM.

[NinePlanets]

Good job, Kasmos! 

[Tom Stock]

Wow what a find!

[Zthomase]

Reviewing it, I believe it's really old and except for the pier and legs proffessionally made. My guess is maybe early 20th century. Being made of cast iron and the capstan bolts on the pier cap/mount are clues to it's age. The missing badge probably makes it a pro made mount as well.

 

Well, after writting that I had a hunch because it reminded me of some of the details on some scopes made bt T. Cooke & Sons.

 

First I thought it had a few similarities with Peter Ceravolo's 4" 

 

Then I found this 

Cooke-GEM.jpg

Very close, not exact, but very promising

 

Then the two below

Cooke-Brass-Gem.jpg

The DEC controls are more complex on this example

Cooke-Wooster.jpg

1876 Wooster College 5"

Your DEC controls are more like this one

https://observatorie...ege-of-wooster/

 

Going back to Peter's Thread I noticed how much some of the parts are similar as well.

Like the half RA gear and saddle

 

Check this and the post following it to see what I mean

https://www.cloudyni...tor/?p=10112899

 

Cooke-GEM-Drawing.jpg

This is a detail of the drawing in post #97

This one also has the the more complex DEC controls

 

 

 

Congratulations, you have a Cooke Mount!

and quite possibly from the late 1800s

I’m beyond words! Well done Kasmos! I had a feeling it was special. The seller was a machine shop in Enumclaw WA that seemed to be cleaning out the yard for scrap prices. This thing has been outside for a long time probably years. The guy said the owner had plans to rebuild it but never did. I spent some time turning wrenches on it today and will post some photos of the progress. I’ve got some research to do. Thanks again for the positive ID! 

[starman876]

awesome, I love these old mounts.  Congratulations on a wonderful find.

[Zthomase]

Lots of progress today. Got everything disassembled and ready for cleaning. Amazed at the quality construction of this thing, especially after being outside for so long. It came apart pretty easy, needed the torch a few times and had to drill out some fasteners that were too far gone. Here are some photos:

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[Zthomase]

More photos 

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[Zthomase]

The angle seemed to be set around 40deg, this was one of the screws that I needed to drill out for disassembly. Interesting that there were two other tapped holes, assuming for other longitudes.

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[Kasmos]

Seeing it in pieces you really get an idea of how well made it is.

 

I'll bet it weighs a ton!

 

Once restored it will be a nice piece in itself, but do you have plans to mount something on it?