14 replies to this topic

[tim53]

Hi all.

 

I've reserved a room at Hartness House for Stellafane this year.  Since I was "retired" from JPL in November, I decided I want to drive the Prius (with a mere 258,000 miles on it) to Vermont from L.A.  Should be doable in about a week each way.  Lew Chilton has suggested I bring my Springfield with me and set it up outside the clubhouse.  I think it'll fit in the Prius with the back seat folded down.  At least the OTA and mount will.  The tripod doesn't fold, but even it might fit.

 

I never really "finished" the scope.  Made small modifications over the decades.  The drive is from a Meade 2080 that I bought from Meade when I went to work evenings over Christmas in 1980 (I was working as a geologist at the same time, daytimes). I even have an RA circle somewhere in my "stuff" that was intended for the Springfield.  At the time, though, I was fond of star hopping, and the two rosewood handles on the tube and the counterweight arm (added in the mid 80s), nicknamed "Armstrong Slewing Motors" made panning the skies while looking down into the eyepiece a blast.  But I might try to put setting circles on the thing one of these days, maybe in time for Stellafane. Scope as configured in 1981 (posted from ATM by Robert - my copy of the mag burned in a house fire 24 years ago):

 

 

 

In this picture, taken at our Whittier house around the mid 1980s, I've replaced the finderscope in the counterweight arm with a Meade 4" Spotting Scope mirror lens, mounted to an adjustable guide scope mount with embroidery hoops.  I long ago removed the spotter.  It wasn't very good optically.  Later, I found another spotter in great condition except the optical window was shattered.  I could use the window from the one pictured here to put that one back on the road and rig up a new mount for it in the counterweight arm.  The finders were simple Meade 60mm scopes.  I've moved them to other projects, as they tended to need collimating every time I used the scope since they were under the OTA when sitting in the back of my van.  Don't know if I'll put anything else on for a finder, versus just sighting along the tube corners, using a low power eyepiece, and the armstrong slewing motors to center objects (which works pretty well).

 

 

 

Here are more pictures of the scope, some partially dismantled, starting with this post:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ject/?p=3236821

[Steve_M_M]

Tim,

 

That's a looooong drive.  But, heck yes!  Go for it.  You get to see almost the entire country and when you arrive, you get to see old friends and make new ones.  And, your Springfield will garner plenty of awe and attention.  Maybe even inspire someone to try their own version.  Go!!

 

Steve

[apfever]

The primary route goes through Denver according to mapquest.  You have a place to stay here if you go that route, I have rooms I never use. I'm just outside the edge of the Denver Nebula, at least I'm not in it.

I still have the Gramps scope.  If you have seriously kept that wacky tripod for the Gramps, it would be a great opportunity to get yourself some closure. It never was worth shipping. 

 

There are many different routes for that long of a drive so fair to say YMMV!

[JamesMStephens]

Tim, that's you in the 1980s with the scope?  

 

Certainly, bring that to Springfield!

[geovermont]

Yes, you should do it! I'll look forward to seeing your scope.

[TOMDEY]

Yep!    Tom

[ccwemyss]

Sadly, I'll be on your side of the country the weekend of Stellafane this year. Would really love to have gone, and especially to see you and this legendary piece of your handiwork. 

 

Chip W. 

[starman876]

go for it.  What a great looking scope. 

[pbealo]

Heck yes!

 

Will you be up for Thursday's Hartness House Workshop? Signing up for that allows you to camp Wednesday night on the hill. Its very peaceful then with next to nobody there. I don't camp anymore, but do put up a 10X10 fly as my "base".

 

Peter B.

[deSitter]

Hi all.

 

 

 

 

Here are more pictures of the scope, some partially dismantled, starting with this post:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ject/?p=3236821

 

Somehow you resemble the scope Which is awesome. 

 

-drl

[deSitter]

The primary route goes through Denver according to mapquest.  You have a place to stay here if you go that route, I have rooms I never use. I'm just outside the edge of the Denver Nebula, at least I'm not in it.

I still have the Gramps scope.  If you have seriously kept that wacky tripod for the Gramps, it would be a great opportunity to get yourself some closure. It never was worth shipping. 

 

There are many different routes for that long of a drive so fair to say YMMV!

 

It would be awesome to tag along, but Atlanta is pretty far off the path

 

-drl

[geovermont]

With luck you'll be able to see at least one other Springfield on the hill: This or a similar one is in the STM collection and is sometimes set up on Breezy Hill during convention. From https://stellafane.o...ric/photos.html . The photo is from the 1927 copnvention. Note that this very year is the 100th anniversary of the Pink (the Clubhouse). Come help us celebrate. And note the massive deterioration of the dress code since 1927!

 

Edited by geovermont, 06 May 2025 - 12:47 PM.

[tim53]

Heck yes!

 

Will you be up for Thursday's Hartness House Workshop? Signing up for that allows you to camp Wednesday night on the hill. Its very peaceful then with next to nobody there. I don't camp anymore, but do put up a 10X10 fly as my "base".

 

Peter B.

I do plan to attend the workshop (need to register still).  I have the room at Hartness House reserved for wednesday evening check-in.  My wife will be with me on this trip.  I'd be inclined to camp if Stellafane had a shower truck like OSP does, but am getting old enough that comfy accommodations is a nifty thing.

 

-Tim.

[tim53]

With luck you'll be able to see at least one other Springfield on the hill: This or a similar one is in the STM collection and is sometimes set up on Breezy Hill during convention. From https://stellafane.o...ric/photos.html . The photo is from the 1927 copnvention. Note that this very year is the 100th anniversary of the Pink (the Clubhouse). Come help us celebrate. And note the massive deterioration of the dress code since 1927!

 

STM0284.jpg

I've looked through that Porter Springfield on one of my previous trips to Stellafane (2007, when I was keynote speaker, and 2019).  I donated the 12" Simpson Springfield to the Hartness House museum in 2007, as it was just too big for me to mount somewhere it could be used at the time.  

 

-Tim.

[tim53]

Main downside to bringing my Springfield is that I made it before I knew how to make my own mirrors.  So, the one in it is from an 8" f/6 Optical Craftsmen that I bought new in 1972.  It is a very good mirror, though I've never tested it.  It amazed Ed Beck at RTMC one year when I asked him to evaluate it.  He thought OC mirrors tended to be undercorrected.

 

-Tim.