Unitron

Gordon · #1 12-01-2005, 08:49 PM

Does anyone know where I could find / buy a classic old Unitron 70mm or larger refractor. They were available in the 70's (I think by Astro Optical Supplies at Crows Nest). It's more for sentimental reasons although it would be nice if it were in good condition. Perhaps someone knows of one getting very dusty in a backyard shed soemwhere!?!?

iceman (Mike) · #2 12-01-2005, 09:28 PM

Have you tried Astro Optical? Maybe they have an old one lying around in their warehouse...

Gordon · #3 12-01-2005, 10:57 PM

I have indeed some years ago however the chap there was unable to assist. I'd imagine they are quite rare to find these days. Thank you for the suggestion all the same.

mch62 (Mark) · #4 14-01-2005, 03:04 PM

Hi Gordon , this brings back memories , I know the scope , use to use one in my high school astronomy club in the 70's.
I thought they were 76mm or the old 3" f15 if I remember ?
Fantastic optics and solid engineering for those days low false colour at that Focal ratio and Astro Optical did sell them and a place in Brisbane no longer around call Audio Optics.
They weren't cheap then if my memory serves me right and were a premium scope.
I think they were available in 4 and 5" f15 as well.
They had guide scopes and sliding counter weights ect on some models and were white in colour.
They were quite large and bulky for there size as compared to the Chinese stuff around now , or at least that's how they looked to a stringy high school kid.
Man talk about flash backs.
Mark

Gordon · #5 14-01-2005, 05:44 PM

Hello Mark

Yes indeed I believe it may have been more like 3 inches f/15 or thereabouts. How wonderful you have such fond memories also. They were very fine instruments in the 4-inch models also. They certainly were not cheap telescopes and my old sadly dearly departed was second hand back then. You know I can't even remember what I paid for it. It was a white tube on a wonderfully stable equatorial mount with counter wieghts as you mentioned.

Ha ha a flash back indeed. I also had one of the old tasco 11T reflectors which had a dreadful mount but for some reason I miss this old telescope too. though perhaps if I still had it today it would just continue gathering dust in the shed as the views were not that crash hot compared to so many of the instruments today. But the Unitron refractors were really in a class of their own. Thank you so much for refreshing the memory banks.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 14-01-2005, 08:10 PM

Hi Gordon,

Sorry I can't help with the Unitron but yes, funny about flashbacks. You just gave me one Gordon, when you mentioned Tasco.

My first telescope 20 years ago was home-made from 6" PVC sewerage pipe, rifle scope as a finder and galvanised plumbing pipes for the Eq mount, but I cheated and used a ready made TASCO 4 1/4" mirror.

I must have fluked a miracle because that mirror gave me absolutely magnificent views. Everything was crisp. Other members at the society where amazed!! and they had Meades, Celestrons etc. The mirror even had ozydization craze creeping over about 5% of the surface!

To top that off, I was using K Mart 'Huygens'!!!! Miracles never cease.

I have never seen a Tasco mirror that is any good since then, and Huygens speak for themselves.

As crappy as that scope was, I would love to have it back.

Ahhh, the memories.

Mick (Michael) · #7 16-01-2005, 09:22 AM

Hello Gordon and everyone on this thread. This discussion got me thinking about a 6" reflector that my uncle still owns today. It was a kit scope from a Telescope Shop in Sydney don't remember the name but it's about 35 years old. Anyway I found this photo of a Unitron surfing at Barry Carter's site thought you might be interested.

http://www.barrie-tao.com/atm2.html#vintage%20refractor

http://www.barrie-tao.com/graphics_j...tron2_62mm.jpg

mch62 (Mark) · #8 16-01-2005, 09:37 AM

Yep that's the scope I remember.
The closest thing you will get to that these days are the very good D& G Optical refractors tubes.
All long focal ratios of f12 15 16 18 ect.
These Unitrons are pretty impressive and still highly sort after even today.
Mark

silvinator · #9 16-01-2005, 10:02 AM

Hi Gordon, I did a search on google and didn't find much but I did find this ad in the university of sydney's classifieds (lots of astro stuff for sale there!). Here is the link:
unitron ad
Just scroll down to just over halfway down and you'll see it advertised as a "unitron 4" alt-azimuth refractor telescope complete".
I hope that's what you're looking for.

beren · #10 16-01-2005, 12:45 PM

http://www.telescopebluebook.com/

This site is pretty interesting

Gordon · #11 18-01-2005, 09:26 AM

Thank you Silvinator, Mick and Aragorn.
My goodness I love the the photograph you posted Mick - only thing missing on the wall is one of those old wooden star shaped 1960's clocks. I looked at the ad on the Sydney Uni pages but it is unfortunately only the alt-azimuth mount but thank you so much for directing me to this anyhow.

silvinator · #12 22-01-2005, 10:04 PM

Not a problem Gordon. We're always glad to help out here. About the Syd Uni ad, are you sure it is just the alt-az mount for sale? I'm sure the ad read "refractor telescope complete". Well, I hope you find what you need anyway. Good luck with your search.