Gaunt Equatorial Telescope Stand c1885

[LewisM]

Matt,

SUperb!

I am a restore-a-holic - been restoring old firearms for most of my life. I too do it the sympathetic way (there is NO sandpaper whatsoever in my restoration repertoire!). Knocks, bruises, dings... all history. Leave them be.

I think a wooden octagonal tube scope would look great on this, or even one of the LONG early Japanese refractors.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

mixed with rasberry drink ...
On ya bro. awsome to see .
Brian.

Originally Posted by Kunama

Pure 100 year old you say Brian .....
This little item is my new favourite part of the mount.

I do hope the historians are not offended by the fact that this is a recommissioning of the mount not a restoration or preservation to museum standards. But then again they could have bought the mount during the time it was advertised .

Thanks for the tip about the grog in the vials Brian.

Thank you Laurie, when doing work like this it is always nice to get encouragement along the way. That is one of the great things about this forum, there are very few nay-sayers!

Now how do I get my fingerprints to grow back

[Kunama]

My original plan and reason to buy the mount was to build a 5" F15 refractor by copying some of the design of the Oddie Refractor which I was lucky enough to look through about 35 years ago at Mt Stromlo.

Dr Tim Wetherell recently created the 'Oddie II' which reminded me of the nights on Stromlo in the 70s thus rekindked my interest in this obsession of ours.

Once I have finished doing all the chores on my wife's fridge-list I might begin the scope build. In the meantime the Istar 150 F10 will ride on the Gaunt.

Post #38 now edited with details of pier levelling feet and an artists impression of the final version

[Kunama]

The day began like any ordinary day:

[Kunama]

Slowly but surely it began to look like it was alive again:

[Kunama]

The mount is back together again, waiting for the pier which is primed and waiting for the finishing coats.
I am ecstatic with the finished product.

Due to the thickness of the paint removed, the index plate markings were no longer at the 12 o'clock position so I had to make 0.2mm shims to allow alignment.
No other problems with the assembly.
I hope to have the pier painted over the weekend and then reunite the mount with it next week.

Then the only thing that remains is getting the counterweight correct, at the moment it is about 3.5kg too heavy but I will wait till I have a diagonal and finderscope
attached before boring out some of the mass.

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

That is a very nice return for your efforts. Thanks for sharing the story and pictures.

I have a little project that involves some brass polishing. I do not want to clutter your thread and will start a new one. I hope that you can offer some advice.

[bert (Brett)]

I saw this mount at the previous owners place. Frankly, I'm stunned at the result. If I thought I could make it look that good, I would have bought it and restored it. Well done.

I own a Barry Adcock 6 inch doublet that used to mounted on that particular mount for around 10 years in Melbourne. There's some history for ya.

Brett

[Kunama]

Thanks Stu, I will keep an eye out for your thread.

Thanks Brett, I saw your scope at Dunkeld ( I assume it is the one currently mounted in the Obs). When I first saw the mount I thought it would be quite a challenge, I had imagined everything being seized up solid. I was pleasantly surprised when I started the dismantling that everything came apart easily, except one bolt.

Eventually I will build tangent worm drives for it, in the meantime she will be "bump-to" instead of goto.

[bert (Brett)]

Yep, that's my scope... I must have been in the USA when you picked it up.

If you don't want goto, don't look here: http://www.siderealtechnology.com/

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by bert

Yep, that's my scope... If you don't want goto, don't look here: http://www.siderealtechnology.com/

Seen it !

The Istar refractor and Gaunt will probably remain as they are for a while.
Eventually they will be housed in an observatory alongside the Vixen stuff.

Thanks to Steve at MyAstroShop I now have a brand new Vixen GP-D2 to go with the R200SS and Canon 50D for general viewing and imaging.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Sexy Matt , it make an old Boilermaker like me proud to see this sort of work .
Hope you have a great Christmas and clear skies mate .
Brian.

[Terry B]

Very nice work. Well done.

[mercedes_sl1970]

Looking very impressive!

Andrew

[MortonH]

Wow, Matt. What a great job you've done, and so quickly! It's going to look stunning with your Istar on it!

Morton

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Looks wonderful, Matt!

[MattT]

Hey Matt looks great, thats an under statement to be sure! Before you go cutting down the mass of the counterweight why not turn the scope into a modern day version of the Unitron scopes of old and add a 3" or 4" scope, as well as a finder...naturally in black. Here is my version...
Matt

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by MattT

Hey Matt looks great, thats an under statement to be sure! Before you go cutting down the mass of the counterweight why not turn the scope into a modern day version of the Unitron scopes of old and add a 3" or 4" scope, as well as a finder...naturally in black. Here is my version...
Matt

Thanks for the great responses one and all, I think all of us strive to do better with a bit of encouragement. I know I do.

Matt, thanks for your post, I like your version a lot

My plan for the counterweight is to wait until I have all accessories attached, indeed there is a plan to include a little refractor to ride on top as well as a finder. I will paint them to match the Istar.
Once it is all together, I will be drilling five 25mm diameter holes through the counter weight (at 72 degree spacing around the centrebore) then adjustments can be made sliding a 25mm diameter brass rod into as many of the holes as needed. Should look nice too
I am also going to change all the nickel plated fittings on the Istar for brass items or gold plate them to suit.

I am also going to Canberra (where my lathe is) to make a sliding counter weight to allow for variations in eyepiece and diagonal settings, this will hang under the main tube.

Anyway being a glorious Snowy Mountains day it was time for Istar to get reacquainted with Gaunt, the meeting was, as expected, spectacular here is the proof:

[anj026]

It looks wonderful Matt, well done.

[TechnoViking (James)]

What a beautifully restored telescope!! You have done an incredible job, i bet you are as proud as punch!!