Tasco 50mm refractor. It used the old 0.96" eyepieces. I got just in time for Comet Halley - and then continued to use it until 1995 when I got my 10" dob as a 21st present.
I should add though, that I had an older brother with a 4" SCT who went on to be a professional astronomer and I was a member of the BAA (astro society in Sydney) from about age 12. We used to catch the train together into meetings at Sydney Observatory.
The 10" dob worked a treat, especially when I lived in Wagga and when I visited Narrabri. I got to know the sky pretty well and spent lots of time going over various atlases and NGC 2000 planning my observing nights.
I was overseas in Zambia for 2005-2010. In 2009 I got a cheap 80mm while holidaying in the UK (visiting my brother!) to take back to Zambia to enjoy the dark skies (I lived in a remote village near the Angolan border - best skies!!). Twice the region lost electricity for 6 weeks straight.... absolute astro bliss!!
In 2011 I got a CGEM 9.25" and in 2012 a 16" GSO dob and an 80mm APO refractor.
I would consider myself a fairly experienced observer, but a newbie imager (since I only took up imaging in 2011).