They don't build them like this anymore...

[AstroJunk]

I have just finished a full strip down and clean of my 14" Meade SCT - 2004 vintage, when I came across a diagonal that came with it. I only ever looked through it once when I first bought it second hand and was suitably unimpressed by the lack of aperture, so the diagonal has sat unused ever since :rofl:

So for the sake of completeness, and the fact that it is a cloudy night with nothing better to do, I decided to clean it too. Turns out it's beautifully made with a machined brass body and fully shaped mirror with great coatings.

Ah, at least I can look at it with some pride as it sits unused for the next 14 years :lol:

[Rkonrad]

100% the older stuff was made well but remember that the quality stuff made in the 60-70's was expensive compared to the average now

[AstroJunk]

In the '70s I couldn't even afford a copy of Sky & Telescope let alone anything advertised in it :rofl: