I just bought a 10” Newtonian in a very used condition. Focal length is 85”. As you can see from the images the mirror is rather thick by modern standards. Comes with a unitron finder.
I am trying to establish provenance.
Apart from the 85” focal length writing on the back of the mirror I can’t see any other signs of identification.
If you have an idea of where this may have come from I would appreciate hearing from you.
Looks like an Astro Optical Supplies to me Lars ( judging by the end ring and mirror cell ), they would often put a unitron finder and EPs with their scope.
Don't know whats going on with the focuser base
Lars I think I recoganise that main mirror and the secondary, and i am sure that i made the vanes for the secondary and the clips holding the main to the mirror holder, especially with the black tape around them, because that is exactly what i did
Also that mark around the main mirror is from tape that was wound around it to keep it in place and not moving from the aluminum clips.
Can you tell me without giving anything away the first letter of the persons first name from whom you bought it, if you want to that is.
If it happens to be my old reflector than it is definitely Astro Optical from whom i bought it.
I didn't buy the tube just the mirrors
If this is all true than how incredible that would be.
From the tip, wow that is incredible indeed
I will have to search the computer for some photos of the build for this telescope, but it sure looks like the mirrors i actually owned especially the vanes with the rounded nuts on the end, and the taped main mirror clips.
We have a saying in bathurst- the tip will provide. And indeed it has on multiple occasions. I’ve bought seven scopes from the tip so far. Distributed them to six worthy young folk who want to get into astronomy. This one is a bit special though and I still have to find a mount.
What a great find and what a small world. That scope certainly deserves restoration, it's a bit of a classic. As it happens I have a 10" f8.2 mirror with 2" secondary, but the mechanical parts have been scrapped. I also have the same Unitron finder. I have a rough plan of rebuilding it to live in the back yard as a planet and lunar scope. I'm thinking of a dobs with an eq platform. That seems easier to build and it keeps the eyepiece in a accessible position. If you use a GEM make sure the tube is easy to rotate. Otherwise you wind up with contortionist eyepiece positions.
David,
Strip the main mirror and you have an ideal white light solar telescope - just need to add an ND3 for safety.
Nice idea Ken but I think I'll keep using the 15cm acro for that (with solar continuum filter). I also have a Sphinx GEM which one day may have a Ha scope on it. The mount is mechanically great but the Starbook controller is the pits (IMHO), but that won't matter for solar.
wow that is incredible indeed 
