How Old is this OTA ???

[Nico13]

Hi all,

Purchased this Meade 8" SCT OTA about a year back and was told it was twenty five years old.
After seeing the condition I tended to doubt that unless it sat under the bed for most of that time but it has no real identifying marks other than the serial plate.

Was going to email Meade in the US but they don't appear to have an email contact just FAX phone or snail mail so that seemed all to hard.

So hoping someone here could help, who are the old :astron:meade owners :help:that may recognise this and possibly know its age or some way of finding out.

Regards

Nico.

[Blue Skies]

If it had a mount with it, it would be easy. But just the OTA....nope, no idea.

[mldee]

You may have more chance of getting an answer if you posted on CN or Yahoo groups Meade

Good luck,

[GrampianStars]

Nico
the front corrector has the detailed markings
post up a pic to see

[Nico13]

Here ya go.

This may help.

Nico.

[Visionoz]

Hi

Read somewhere that Meade started making the 8" SCTs around 1987 - I may be wrong though!

HTH
Cheers
Bill

[astro744]

Could be but the focuser is definitely recent. Meade's first 8" SCT was 1980. See http://www.meade.com/about.php

Meade made an early 8" SCT (model 2080) that came with a GEM mount not fork.

[morls]

I'd write a letter with a coupla photos and the serial number, get that off to Meade...they'd have to be able to pin it down wouldn't they? :shrug:

[Barrykgerdes]

The picture of the OTA looks like quite an early version of the Meade 2080 OTA but it is in remarkable good condition for its age probably close to 25 years. The focuser does not look original probably a much later addition.

There are no signs of connection holes for fitting to a fork mount so it could be from an OTA used on a GEM mount. I have a 1993 catalogue that gives a bit of the early Meade history but no mention of such a device. The original 2080 from 1980 only mentions the fork mount. Likewise there is no mention of the Crayford type focuser in my old accessories catalogue.

Some time ago I down loaded an article on the history of the complete range of Meade products but I can't remember its title so I am having trouble locating it in my records. If I can find it I will post details.

Barry

[GrampianStars]

Here you are Nico :thumbsup:
http://www.telescopebluebook.com/sct/meade.htm

A GEM version of the Meade SCT was announced in 1986 as the 2080GEM It wasn't made for very long, was never very popular, and is now rare on the used market

[higginsdj]

You could always send an email to Meade's local dealers - like Bintel and ask them! If nothing else, they can contact Meade on your behalf (they have email addresses)

[Nico13]

That's great guys,

It well looks like the twenty five year old may be correct.
Just looking at the bluebook page and the images look right for the time.

Also I should have mentioned the focuser is my addition just recently.
The condition is excellent for the age and the serial label even still has its protective clear plastic cover stuck on it.

If you look at the front of the scope you can see the corrector lens has been cleaned a few times as the silver is worn from the lettering around the inside edges so that indicates a bit of use but well looked after use.

I had a look at the mounting points and there are a couple of screws missing one side so it could have been on a fork originally, don't know there though.

I think I will send Meade a letter with the details and see what they have to say about it.

So thanks again guys good work.

Nico.

See the missing screws but no witness marks to show like it had anything mounted there???

[Barrykgerdes]

Thanks that was the reference I was looking for.

Barry (1000)

[Screwdriverone]

Hey Nico,

WOW, that OTA is in schmick condition! looks almost NEW. Good buy!

Oh, by the way, Grats to Barry for his 1000 posts! ;)

Didnt miss ya, well done buddy.

Cheers

Chris

[Nico13]

Thanks Chris,

Yeh picked up the OTA, 2" diag, a couple of eye pieces on a Super Polaris EQ mount with an Autostar 497 and DS motors for $800.

Pretty dam good deal I thought, I made a Pier mount for it added the focuser and 2X barlow and just looking at setting up PHD Guiding with a web cam, so it's all looking pretty good.

I got some contact info for Meade US so I'm gunna send them an email with the details and see if they can tie down a date of manufacture just as a matter of intrest to see how old it is.

All good info thanks guys. :thumbsup:

Nico.

PS will let you know if I get a date on it.