[FREEBIE CLAIMED] 2 x 75mm Unitron Refractors

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Ex QUT scopes saved from the skip. To be honest, I'm going to put them back in the skip unless anyone out there wants to scavenge the parts for something.

Here's the deal, they go free to anyone who takes the pair either by pick-up or sending a courier - too long for aus post. What you see in the photo is what you get - everything is in exactly the sort of shape you would expect for three decades in the education system

I cant see any scratches on the objectives, but mould is present.

Any takers?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm definitely interested.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by UniPol

I'll take them, pay for a courier and donate $150 to IIS.

A fine offer, thanks. I'm exploring some local options at the moment and will PM when all comes clear!

[torana68 (Roger)]

Put me on the short list pls

[Handy Andy]

Do you have the mounts & tripods, too? I'll put my hand up for those, if avail... Andrew

[linkpng (Alfred)]

Dear Jonathan,
Your Unitron refractors are very rare and very high quality instruments and in principle, cleaned up, worth a lot of money, espcially in their original cases. I have one complete, still in use, dating from the 1960s. In those days Unitron (or Polaris in some parts of the world) were the Rolls Royce of small refractors; that was in the days before ED and APO. They have excellent air spaced doublet objectives and also the small 24.5 mm eyepieces are very respectable. The mechanicals are also very well made with a ful set of collimation screws in the objective cell. Mine has absolutely perfect star images and is lovely on brighter objects. The metal bracket lying in the lower box is the spacer that sits halfway up the (wooden) tripod. They came in Alt-Az and Equatorial varieties.

In the USA and Japan these are collectible and regarded as almost museum pieces and in good condition attract high prices. Have a look on Google. I have seen special web sites dedicated to these Unitron/Polaris instruments. I would strongly suggest you contact a local person with a keen interest in refractors and see how they can be restored. While small, these are just about the best classic 3" refractors ever marketed.

Finally, what ever you do, make sure you record where the spacers are located and mark the orientation of the two lenses with texta - if disassembly is required.

Regards, Alfred

[Smyths77 (Stuart)]

I'm interested and in Brisbane. PM sent.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Thanks Alfred, yes I have come to realise the passion that these scopes stir in the loins of astronomers! I recall as a kid looking through the pages of sky and tel at the magical instruments that cost more than a car...

Originally Posted by linkpng

Dear Jonathan,
Your Unitron refractors are very rare and very high quality instruments and in principle, cleaned up, worth a lot of money, espcially in their original cases. I have one complete, still in use, dating from the 1960s. In those days Unitron (or Polaris in some parts of the world) were the Rolls Royce of small refractors; that was in the days before ED and APO. They have excellent air spaced doublet objectives and also the small 24.5 mm eyepieces are very respectable. The mechanicals are also very well made with a ful set of collimation screws in the objective cell. Mine has absolutely perfect star images and is lovely on brighter objects. The metal bracket lying in the lower box is the spacer that sits halfway up the (wooden) tripod. They came in Alt-Az and Equatorial varieties.

In the USA and Japan these are collectible and regarded as almost museum pieces and in good condition attract high prices. Have a look on Google. I have seen special web sites dedicated to these Unitron/Polaris instruments. I would strongly suggest you contact a local person with a keen interest in refractors and see how they can be restored. While small, these are just about the best classic 3" refractors ever marketed.

Finally, what ever you do, make sure you record where the spacers are located and mark the orientation of the two lenses with texta - if disassembly is required.

Regards, Alfred

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Thanks to everyone for the offers and kind advice. The OTA's have been given free to two local homes for loving restoration.

Sorry to those who missed out, I could have happily given then away 10 times over!