Samson Mount

[kevy02]

Greetings,
I have just aquired an old scope, that is mounted on a samson mount, haven't got a lot of details of when it was built, I believe it was made by Astro Optical ( Amateur astronomers supply co. ) quite some time ago.The counter weights were made in Cairns.
It is my intention to restore the scope and mount over time.I need input as to how the mount was contructed,and how it can be pulled apart to check all bearings,etc.
Any info would be appreciated. Cheers. Kevin.

[Poita]

Yep, that is an astro optical piece all right, I recognise the mount 'feet' I still have a set here.
I have no other info though I'm afraid.

[torana68]

was about to bid on that , even spoke to the guy and then he sold it :( . Be carefull restoring it as the costs can mount quickly to the point where it would be cheaper to buy a new one. I think its a bit like over capitalisation on a house, all good if your keeping it :)
The mount is held together with allan keys , some semi hidden. Be carefull and take lots of photos. Dont force anything!

[Foxinsox]

I have 8" Newtonian version of this 10" Newt. ex-Amateur Astronomer's Supply Co. - Vintage 1972 one. I was going to bid on this old beauty.
The mount is very strongly built in some places but is inadequately built in others. Beware the grub screws. The clutch is just a small brass plate inside. Needs to be well balanced. I would not bother with the big heavy old 11" diam tube, but rather bung on a new Guan Sheng F4 12" OTA . The clock drive should be good enough for short exposures .
last forever.

[torana68]

yes, they struggle a little with weight, not sure what the 12.5 DK mount has inside to work with the weight of that but Ill find out :) the attached shows some of whats inside the mount. Be carefull with the drive, there are no known replacements.

[solissydney]

My old Astro Mount was made by MR Laurie Hall in Queensland.
I assume the Samson Mount also.
Ken

[Satchmo]

This is what they called the `super deluxe' mount- predates the Samson mount by many years . the Samson was made by a german guy called Alex in Melbourne circa 1985 and on - the old super deluxe was made by Hall in Qld. and dates back to the early '70's. These were the only large mounts available in the country - many years before importing US made mounts became commonplace.

[kevy02]

Thanks guys, getting a little clearer now. The guy I bought it off did mention it was made in late sixties I think. The nameplate on the counterweights reads .. R L & W P Hall Engineering Cairns. So, it's not a Samson mount after all? Makes it even more interesting as a restoration endeavour. Also, I take it that it was still marketed by AASC at Crows nest?

[torana68]

yep Mr Hall was a supplier to them (mounts) he later made his own complete telescopes, nice guy too :) very good engineer. The name "sampson" seems to have been attached to any of the mounts from AASC/Astro but they are mostly "Hall" not "sampson" and I could be convinced the later "Sampson" is more of a "Hall" copy or "improved" version maybe.

[Lester]

Nice thread, brings back memories. I had one of the Super delux mounts in the early 1970s, to hold a 8" f6 newtonian. I can remember doing a 60 minute uncorrected time exposure with minolta film camera and 50mm lens, that produced pinpoint stars. I didn't think much of it till years later as to how well it must have tracked. I traded in the mount, when I upgraded to the Goliath mount.

All the best.

[Satchmo]

Sampson mount was a project of Monty Ash who bought AASC in 1977 rebadged as Astro Optical Supplies. Most were royal blue in colour though some early ones were black. There was alarger mount with 2" shafts called Goliath but I think only half a dozen or so were made.

All mount and mirror optical manufactured ceased when the current owner bought the business in the early 1990's -certainly a sad closure to 30 years of Australian manufacturing. I really enjoyed my time with AOS from 1985 to 1988 through the crazy Halleys Comet era.

[kevy02]

I began my amateur astronomy back in the 60's,and bought my first scope from AASC.I do seem to remember the Super Deluxe mount,but remember it was well out of my league.So, does anyone know when they were first produced and any pix?

[torana68]

well that explains the blue color :) the green one is Mr Halls from the later 1960's the blue a Sampson the Black an early 70's Hall "Super Delux" . Best way to tell at a glance seems to be if the mount head fits inside the tube its a Hall, over the tube Sampson (the two Halls are mine the blue one I forget where the photo came from)

[kevy02]

Thanks Roger, mine is exactly the same as the green one, so late sixties as thought.I will ditch the original scope ( store it ) and put my 10" skywatcher on it.I tested the motor drive out ,and all seems fine,pretty amazing seeing its age. Kevin.