Free telescope!

[LewisM]

I had read the stories... You guys finding scopes at the tip, garage sales etc. Never thought it would happen to me

Driving around just 30 minutes ago, I spot a telescope on tripod on the side of the road, left for anyone to take. I stop, dont hesitate, into the car.

Just had a good look. 4.5" Newtonian with a 900 mm focal length. Primary VERY VERY CLEAN with no deterioration. Secondary needs a clean, so not sure yet. Eyepiece odd, but clear and heavy (glass). Tube is rolled steel. A little rust where paint scratched but easy repair. Finder clear. Focuser smooth. Tripod is wood surveyor style. Equatorial head in great free moving condition, only missing elevation scale and the counterweight bar and weight. Slow motion controls there.and working smoothly.

Made by "Topic" Japan. Very Takahashi style, just cheaper.

Will photograph tomorrow when I get it home.
.

Anyone got a spare counterweight bar and small weight? Kaybe an old tasco would suit.

Decision now repaint original white or go red or something. Likely end up my daughters anyway.

Very chuffed. :)

[jjjnettie]

Wheeee!! Congrats. :)

[rmuhlack]

Score!!

[brian nordstrom]

;) Another project , cool bro .
I have just finished a similar scope just reciently , a Tasco 11R , 114 x900 fl .
The owner now is like me ,,,, waiting for the dry season .
Measure the CW shaft , if its 16mm or there abouts , I have a black one thats about 1kg .
Good score Lew .
Brian.

[brian nordstrom]

:) here it is mate .
Made it myself , she's nice one .
Brian.

[LewisM]

Brian,

EVERY detail of that Tasco is identical to this one, apart from the colour! (hence thinking to make it Tasco red) - I BET yours has a Circle T maker mark and JAPAN on it :)

Yep, counterweight shaft is about 16mm :)

[brian nordstrom]

:) This is the moon thru the RED Tasco 11R , good optics .
Brian.

[LewisM]

AM going to try it out tonight on the moon.

Even if I don't end up using the eq mount, was trying it out alt-az - turn the alt to straight up, and you have alt-az, side mounted scope :) Easier for the young girl.

[LewisM]

Actually been a bonza month for astro for me:
1. VC200L for $450
2. This one FREE
3. Bunch of OLD Vixen prime focus photography adapters for $10

ABout time I had a lucky break like this :)

[brian nordstrom]

;) And some Brothers . With CW's .
Happy Easter Mate .$%) ? score .
More Bro's .

Brian.

[skytry]

hi Lewis,
Well done, enjoy your great finds,

regards,
Peter.

[asimov]

Had one just like it > http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbarchive/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/459944/page/96/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

[gavcol]

Well done everyone, sounds like some well deserved good fortune.

Lewis, I'd be happy with a VC200L for $450 too :eyepop:. Good buy!

Now is it my turn?

Hope you have some clearer skies!

Cheers

Gav

[LewisM]

Got the 4.5" Newt all pulled apart yesterday. She is in FANTASTIC shape, apart from needing the tube resprayed externally and internally (will use blackboard black inside). The equatorial mount is in near perfect shape, apart from missing the counterweight shaft and weight as I mentioned in my first post.

Took Young Miss 4.5 (daughter that is, not scope :) ) to Supercheap Auto yesterday and asked her to pick a colour for her telescope (which Daddy will use more ;) ). She of COURSE said pink. I offered orange or red. She said pink. I got RED :)

As a weird astro coincidence, the orange and the red shades were rather appropriate - Venus Orange (VERY Celestron old BTW!), and Vixen (Red). Being a Vixen devotee and a red-head lover (wife and daughter), I made the executive decision. She was FINE with it, as I reminded her everything else she had was pink...

Miss 4.5 in Bunnings...before Supercheap Auto (CHEAPER paint in SCA than Bunnings - cheper everything actually)...

[LewisM]

Ended up having to go to SCA again yesterday, and saw that single, lonely can of Venus Orange on the shelf. All alone, no other Venii companions...

So, I bought it.


I think the 4.5"er will look cracking in old style Celestron-esque orange :)

[taminga16]

Hi Lewis,
How did you ascertain that the telescope was "left for anyone to take"?
Greg.

[LewisM]

By the sign on it that said "Free for Easter" :)

[taminga16]

Some years ago we where felling a rather large tree, stopped for a break, left our climbing gear in said tree and went into the clients for tea, a neighbour knocked at the door and informed us that someone was removing our gear, when confronted his justification was that it was there 'left for anyone to take', Jim Morrison was right, "People are strange". Oh! and the equipment would have run out to thousands to replace!
Greg.

[LewisM]

Even without the sign, 'twas a bit obvious it was meant to be taken, along with the other stuff out there on the kerbside. Unless of course someone looks at terrestrial targets while surrounded by other throw-away ephemera :)

I get the point though Greg.

Locally, we leave a lot for people to take out on the kerbside. I put an old TV and a stereo system out once. Gone within 10 minutes ;)

[LewisM]

Well, started the resto today. The secondary could do with replacing, but it reflects enough. It is JUST starting to fleck in one place. The primary is impeccable.

Resprayed the crinkle black with some satin black (does anyone know if the old "techincal equipment crinkle black" paint is still available anywhere???). Resprayed the eyepiece orange (odd, why the eyepiece is an orange tube the length of the drawtube! The paint from the metal cap holding the elements was badly chipped). Decided to paint the tube front ring support, mirror cell support and mirror tube ring in hammertone brown - it looks FANTASTIC! A really nice colour! I will likely paint the ENTIRE tube hammertone to help hide the defects somewhat, before overspraying the hammertone with the Celestron orange.

Finderscope is now orange, and looks so retro 70's :)

Now, onto the tripod. Wood is fine, but the accessory plate and supports need unbending and repainting - likely hammertone again.

[mithrandir]

Around here TVs and computer monitors stay on the footpath until the council cleanup truck (you have to book) comes to take them away. LCD TVs and monitors might go but all mine are still working.