49 replies to this topic

[SanyaKhalil]

That was not what the C14's came with.  I can offer up 10k for the OTA if it is past nuts insane freaky sharp.

That's what I figured, I didn't think production c14's came with a hand controller that looked like that. As of right now I have no intentions of selling this telescope. Especially not for 10k. Thank you for your offer though.

[SanyaKhalil]

That was not what the C14's came with.  I can offer up 10k for the OTA if it is past nuts insane freaky sharp.

You were a major inspiration though 😉 

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[davidmcgo]

Here is the original ad with Tom Johnson and the tri color with the 6 fork holes.  My serial number 23 was just the orange and grey and 7 hole fork.

 

 

Dave

[SanyaKhalil]

Here is the original ad with Tom Johnson and the tri color with the 6 fork holes.  My serial number 23 was just the orange and grey and 7 hole fork.

 

IMG_6586.jpeg

 

Dave

Thank you so much, that's definitely a very interesting ad to see. 

[NinePlanets]

Wow!

What a great find! 

Yes. This telescope needs restoration and a happy home. 

[jragsdale]

I can offer up 10k for the OTA if it is past nuts insane freaky sharp.

Don't take $10k when Chas said it was worth millions! 

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[SanyaKhalil]

Don't take $10k when Chas said it was worth millions! 

Thank you, Yah I didn't even consider it. It was very satisfying finding his old post for it. I love being passive aggressive. 

[SanyaKhalil]

So here is the reply I got from Celestron. I do have several questions but this was their reply... 1 what is their issue with us cloudy nights folk. Two supposedly no one has seen this tricolor c14 until now. If they made 100+ units where are they. Three they made 300 c8 tricolor velvetone units which are still around, one is displayed in their lobby at Torrance. And four if it was a production model where is my serial number, is it possible they were not numbered, could be. All in all they have been very condescending during the whole experience, that's honestly what irritates me, before knowing anything the lady on the phone told me she would have Tom Johnsons friend clear up all my lore. Anyway does the story continue? who knows, for now this appears to be the only tri color c14 model on the internet that isn't in a catalog. So far its a one of a kind piece and I learned alot about it in the process. Celestron just debunked the tricolor c14 I guess. What do yall think? It was fun in the moment. This scope will be used for a long time and will be treasured. 

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[SanyaKhalil]

Update, upon further research i believe they may have been referencing this version of the telescope. Either way I'm done dealing with them. 

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[jragsdale]

Update, upon further research i believe they may have been referencing this version of the telescope. Either way I'm done dealing with them. 

Yeah, there's barely anyone at Celestron that would know about the old old stuff and they lost all their paperwork in a flood a long time ago.

 

Maybe they made more tri-color C14s but not only are no pictures of one available until yours, but even people who have been around say they've never seen one. I think youre right, they're referencing the old Sandcast model, which was the previous first gen C14 as no tri-color models had ever materialized.

[ccwemyss]

1 what is their issue with us cloudy nights folk. 

The Classics forum doesn't digress into vitriol as often as some of the others, but if you read threads more broadly on the site, you do find a lot of posts that are full of misinformation. Some of it is just people speaking out of poor memory or based on third-hand lore. Some is malicious, perhaps arising from a bad experience. Manufacturers get really frustrated with all of it, and could spend ridiculous amounts of time trying to respond. I'm also on the AP forum, and when they announce a new scope, CN people go wild with speculation and unfounded claims, which drives Roland crazy, but he rarely has the time to debunk it. I think the manufacturers just take the attitude that their products will speak for them in the end. I'm kind of surprised that Celestron actually took any time to answer you. 

 

Chip W. 

[NinePlanets]

That's too bad about Celestron's loss of tribal knowledge. Sad. 

[CHASLX200]

That's what I figured, I didn't think production c14's came with a hand controller that looked like that. As of right now I have no intentions of selling this telescope. Especially not for 10k. Thank you for your offer though.

Mine had a tiny hand box..

[CHASLX200]

You were a major inspiration though  

Still may not be the real deal or the same as the one in the SKY& TELE ad.

[Airship]

Ugh. I'm sure that there's no tribal memory at Celestron going back anywhere near far enough. I had a similar interaction with Apple many years ago about an Apple IIc+. They just couldn't find any information on the Mac IIc+.

Wonderful treasure! I have had some interesting offers for my Unitron 510. Somethings are worth more than money.

Enjoy.

[CHASLX200]

Everyone would be dead that was around when that scope was made.

 

I just want to be clear here. Are we saying this is the first ever C14?  Are we saying this is the same C14 as seen in the SKT & TELE ad?

[SanyaKhalil]

Everyone would be dead that was around when that scope was made.

I just want to be clear here. Are we saying this is the first ever C14? Are we saying this is the same C14 as seen in the SKT & TELE ad?

Basically it's one of the prototypes. It's exact history is lost, but it is one of the firsts if not the first, there really is no way of knowing, was the ad the first one, probably not, there may have been a few iterations leading to that one. What makes it significant is it's the only tricolor prototype produced, just look at the tripod wedge and handcontroller aside from the tricolor scheme. Its all very primitive. Currently it's a one of a kind scope holding a secret history we will probably never know. A tricolor has never been seen until now in public hands and the only evidence of it until now was that ad.

Edited by SanyaKhalil, 08 May 2025 - 06:54 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Basically it's one of the prototypes. It's exact history is lost, but it is one of the firsts if not the first, there really is no way of knowing, was the ad the first one, probably not, there may have been a few iterations leading to that one. What makes it significant is it's the only tricolor prototype produced, just look at the tripod wedge and handcontroller aside from the tricolor scheme. Its all very primitive. Currently it's a one of a kind scope holding a secret history we will probably never know.

I guess no one from C is left to tell us anything.  But for sure it is one of the first 1's with that odd hand control.  

Edited by CHASLX200, 08 May 2025 - 06:54 PM.

[deSitter]

Mine had a tiny hand box..

 

You didn't have a tricolor prototype Chas. You had a production sandcast C14. Why do you keep at this? Be happy for this dude! He's found a unicorn and it treating it with the respect it deserves!

 

-drl

[deSitter]

I guess no one from C is left to tell us anything.  But for sure it is one of the first 1's with that odd hand control.  

 

This was installed in an observatory. They often had their own electrical shops for making handboxes and all that. It looks like a typical observatory handbox. The wooden handle shows that it is a one-off. Probably started out as a machete or a frying pan.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

You didn't have a tricolor prototype Chas. You had a production sandcast C14. Why do you keep at this? Be happy for this dude! He's found a unicorn and it treating it with the respect it deserves!

 

-drl

I know what i had.  It was a 1970's orange C14 with a small hand control. I never saw a control like his.

[jragsdale]

Have you checked in the Celestron The Early Years to see if there's any mention?

[davidmcgo]

My C14 from woodsman is serial 23 but was ordered mid 1972 and was not a tri color and had the 7 hole forks,It might have been made earlier but as there is a later dated invoice for a serial number plate from 1973 that indicates it was produced before the plates were on, so could be very early.  And it is just like the rest of the 1970s production except the 8 pin Cinch Jones hand paddle connection.  Later ones had a 6 pin.  So you have definitely one of the or only prototype.

Also, the fork mounted C14 never went to die cast.  It changed to black but still sand cast and after that went to the G11 mount as the CG 14.

 

So the Celestron response was wrong.  To anyone still there it was just a commodity and not the stuff of passion and dreams like it is for us. They might have one or two still in advisory roles from later in the Celestron International era but nobody back to 1972.

 

Dave

Edited by davidmcgo, 09 May 2025 - 07:50 AM.

[deSitter]

Have you checked in the Celestron The Early Years to see if there's any mention?

 

I looked - there are the two ads, one BW and one color (seen above, actually the 2nd ad). No information about sales of tricolors.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

I had a ad of a Tri color 14 with a 5 and 8 next to it.