They don't build them like this anymore...

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I have just finished a full strip down and clean of my 14" Meade SCT - 2004 vintage, when I came across a diagonal that came with it. I only ever looked through it once when I first bought it second hand and was suitably unimpressed by the lack of aperture, so the diagonal has sat unused ever since

So for the sake of completeness, and the fact that it is a cloudy night with nothing better to do, I decided to clean it too. Turns out it's beautifully made with a machined brass body and fully shaped mirror with great coatings.

Ah, at least I can look at it with some pride as it sits unused for the next 14 years

[Rkonrad (Richard)]

100% the older stuff was made well but remember that the quality stuff made in the 60-70's was expensive compared to the average now

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

In the '70s I couldn't even afford a copy of Sky & Telescope let alone anything advertised in it