Astro Physics 130 F6

[bert]

A expression of interest in my vintage Ap130 f6, 1986 model. The previous owner has assured me it is the famous NASA glass but I cannot confirm if it is or not.

The objective is signed and dated by Roland Christen.

I am looking at a larger refractor that has come up.

Prefer opick up in bathurst.

Photos coming soon.

Brett

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug: Photos , price there Brett ?
Brian.

[harmo_hammer]

Hi there,

I'm looking at getting a nice refractor for astrophotography. What is the condition of the scope? Are there any problems, dust, scratches that a prospective buyer should know?

Also, could you let us know what the focal length, ballpark weight, and your asking price?

Local pickup wouldn't be a problem for me, but I'm sure there are other people interested in your scope :-) Good luck with your sale and purchase of newer greater gear!

Hamish

[Peter Ward]

I'll take a wild guess.... 130mm f6.....hmmm about 780mm perhaps? :)

BTW I have a 1996 version of the same scope... Provided its been looked after you'd be mad let an opportunity like this to slip by:thumbsup:

[bert]

Mr Ward,

Thanks for the math and comments. I gotta ask.. I haven't received an offer from you as yet, sooo.... does that make you mad as well?:P

Im not sure if your scope is the same, I did some tests since placing this ad. I read that the NASA glass Christen triplets has a slight yellowish tinge to the objective and sure enough it has a slight tinge of yellow. The previous owner assured me it was NASA glass, but I tend to take such statements with a grain of salt, but the test seems to indicate it is. Your later model, from what I have read of late, was not the nasa glass. Not that that is a bad thing. Its just that the NASA glass ap scopes are a piece of history.

I want to highlight some issues with the scope:

Firstly: some bloke called Roland graffitied and dated on the side of the objective as shown in the photo.

Secondly: There is 2 holes where it looks like somebody has mounted a finder to the tube shown in photo. They came free with the scope! When I originally got the scope it had some bolts in it, I removed them as they were shiny and caused reflections and covered the holes with tape. They can easily be covered with the mounting rings, I didn't as I had dec balance issues.

Thirdly: I think it may have had the tube shortened. I didn't mind as it meant that I could run an imaging train longer that most peoples arm without running out of back focus (and I did! Without focuser sag too). If your into visual then you can run binoviewers easily without barlows etc.

Looking at offers around 5k.

Brett

[col]

Hi Brett, I'm sure Peter will know a lot more about the AP scopes than I do but my 1995 AP130 EDFS (serial 08) has never been cut down and it also has a lot of back focus. I generally use a 2" extension tube so as not to have the focuser racked out too far. Regards, Col

[bert]

Hi Col,

Thanks for the info. Lots of AP130 owners coming out of the woodwork! To me its a benefit having lots of back focus. Its always easier to add an extension than to have a shortfall.

Brett

[phmsadleir]

Would you consider $3000? am a visual observer, not a collector.

[bert]

I could have sold it 10 times over for $3000. So no thanks.

[Kal]

I'd say by the vintage that this scope would have used the NASA glass. This design predated the later starfire EDFS scope that Peter Ward has, which according to the article below, is a different design

http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/tmb/tmb1.html

[strongmanmike]

As he points out himself, I wouldn't take Thomas's descriptions as gospel, he is inaccurate there about my 152EDF Starfire so perhaps inaccurate about other things too..?

Sounds like a good scope Brett, any Roland Christen scope is quality :thumbsup:

Mike

[Peter Ward]

:lol: Then I could have AP130mm Binoculars? ...hummm..pity the OTA's are a different shape

[bert]

Think about it....

Ap130 binoscope and the kicker.... You could use your ap155 as a finder.:lol:

[Peter Ward]

Yeah well.... sorry spent a few $ on another AP scope... very recently.

That said, for prospective buyers: ask yourself....what other worthy 5" refractors are out there?
TEC? TeleVue? Taka?...........(some very big $ there)

Yet, despite their "fame" and price-tags, I have looked through some dud Taka's and TeleVue's (never looked through a TEC)...but never met an AP 'scope I didn't like.... a heck of alot :thumbsup:

[acropolite]

At the OP's request we have deleted several posts. The thread is now open for Questions relevant to the sale.

Please keep any posts to QUESTIONS relevant to the sale as per the Icetrade TOS