39 replies to this topic

[Zthomase]

If I can get this back to working order, I’ve always dreamed of making my own scope. Thinking this would be a good platform to work off of. I’ve had entry level scopes my whole life and always desired more, especially after visiting a few observatories over the years and seeing what’s possible with the right equipment.
Everything I have now is just way to small, I have a zeiss maksutov that I use more for terrestrial wildlife viewing with the occasional stargazing.
Knowing myself I’ll find something used that needs rebuilt, I seem to be a magnet for restoration projects. That said open to suggestions!

[clamchip]

Great old mount you have there!

From a machine shop in Enumclaw! I miss Enumclaw's Farman's Pickles! I can still remember the factory, and the aroma!

Interesting pedestal your new Cooke mount is sitting on. I have a similar one from Astrola (Cave) and yours is

the only other time I've seen tubular legs. Mine dates from around 1954, 1st year for Cave advertising in

Sky & Telescope.

Robert 

 

Edited by clamchip, 01 March 2025 - 12:18 PM.

[deSitter]

Great old mount you have there!

From a machine shop in Enumclaw! I miss Enumclaw's Farman's Pickles! I can still remember the factory, and the aroma!

Interesting pedestal your new Cooke mount is sitting on. I have a similar one from Astrola (Cave) and yours is

the only other time I've seen tubular legs. Mine dates from around 1954, 1st year for Cave advertising in

Sky & Telescope.

Robert 

 

post-50896-0-49523700-1618349002.jpg

35647280_10155542118817555_699065386951245824_n.jpg

Did you know that Enumclaw and the entire surround, right down to the Sound, are built on 300 feet of mudflows from the last large eruption of Rainier? It is an amazing story. And bone-chilling in its implications. Osceola Mudflow.

 

https://en.wikipedia...Osceola_Mudflow

 

Apology for OT

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 01 March 2025 - 04:23 PM.

[jimeh]

If I can get this back to working order, I’ve always dreamed of making my own scope. Thinking this would be a good platform to work off of. I’ve had entry level scopes my whole life and always desired more, especially after visiting a few observatories over the years and seeing what’s possible with the right equipment.
Everything I have now is just way to small, I have a zeiss maksutov that I use more for terrestrial wildlife viewing with the occasional stargazing.
Knowing myself I’ll find something used that needs rebuilt, I seem to be a magnet for restoration projects. That said open to suggestions!

Is that a big lathe in the background? You may have to make a new worm gear. From the first set of photos it looks like it has no threads at all.

[YourNotSirius]

Is that a big lathe in the background? You may have to make a new worm gear. From the first set of photos it looks like it has no threads at all.

That is definitely a lathe. I just cannot make out which one it is. I'm thinking it's in the 10" - 12" swing area. There MAY be another one, or a milling machine, to the right of it. Not enough details to tell. LOL

 

Q

[Zthomase]

Thanks Clamchip! That pickle factory sound interesting, I'll have to ask my in-laws about this they are from the Naches area. And yes this is the land of volcanos looming in your backyard, never gets old! 

Your mount and pedestal looks nice, I don't think I'm going to reuse the tripod on mine, the welds look like a farmer made it, no offence to farmers. I have some 2" steel plate leftover from another project that would make a good semi portable base with a smaller footprint. 

 

Keen eye jimeh and YourNotSirius, in the background is a mill and a lathe, Graziano Sag 12, and a tired Bridgeport. The worm gear a remake for sure. I have been studying up on Peter's thread on his Cook mount and I should be able to make it easy enough with what I have on hand. Still amazed at the skill level of the craftsman that made this back in the day. I've got everything soaking in evaporust overnight and will hopefully have some time with the sandblaster tomorrow. 

.

Edited by Zthomase, 01 March 2025 - 10:00 PM.

[Zthomase]

This is worst corrosion spot I’ve found so far, on the RA spindle. Must of had water sitting in there for a long time. The DEC spindle cleaned up nice.

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[Zthomase]

First coat of primer. The castings have some porosity, nothing a skim coat of bondo wont fix. Not sure what the original color was, there was remnants of black and silver paint. I’m thinking gloss white for the new finish. 

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[Zthomase]

Update: got everything cleaned up enough for a dry fit. Now it’s time to start troubleshooting the worm gear and making some new parts. Didn’t go to wild cleaning the brass, just stripped the paint. 

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[Zthomase]

More photos 

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[Dave Cook]

Nice project!!  It looks great in the black-n-brass scheme - without the homebrew tripod/pier the mount looks much more vintage.  Are you still planning to take it to gloss white?

 

I think building a vintage-style OTA for it would be a ton of fun.

[deSitter]

More photos 

Beautiful old mount and very sweet restoration!

 

-drl

[Zthomase]

Nice project!!  It looks great in the black-n-brass scheme - without the homebrew tripod/pier the mount looks much more vintage.  Are you still planning to take it to gloss white?

 

I think building a vintage-style OTA for it would be a ton of fun.

Thanks! After researching cookes mounts a bit more, black seems to be the most common historic color. It also is just more practical and forgiving than white! 
I’m excited to build my own OTA for sure! 

[deSitter]

Thanks! After researching cookes mounts a bit more, black seems to be the most common historic color. It also is just more practical and forgiving than white! 
I’m excited to build my own OTA for sure! 

I have often wondered if matte and flat finish paints were available in the day. I suspect almost all paint was of necessity glossy. If I had an iron mount, I would be very tempted to paint it dark forest green.

 

-drl

[Kasmos]

Nice Job! 

 

Black was a good choice.