Looks nice Col. I am guessing late 1960's to mid 1970's vintage ?
They built things properly and to last in those days !! Of course you paid for that with a lot of extra weight, but you knew things weren't going to crack, split, or wear out anytime soon.
BTW. Did you clean the screw heads with steel wool, or soak them in vinegar ?
Be careful with "brass" wire wheels - they 99% of the time are merely brass coated steel. If it is a really stiff wire, you do NOT want it near chrome plated parts etc. I hate to say it, but I do see wire wheel paint enamel removal near the focuser flange
To properly restore soft parts and chrome/chrome plated/nickel plated, use a Dremel mini soft stainless wheel or a jeweller's brass wire wheel - which is genuine brass and is so soft you can literally put your fingers against it while spinning and it won't hurt.
I've been using a jeweller's brass wheel for decades for many restoration projects. It takes longer, but it's worth it. It will barely even scratch gold (what it's designed to not do)
Below is the wheel - this one is about 3 years of use. I buy them online from a jewellers supply in either Brisbane or Perth.
Have you got the whole telescope + box or just the OTA? I owned one of these Royal Astro 3" F16 refractors back when I was very young. I think I bought it in 1969, a used scope from the "Amateur Astronomers Supply Company" in Crow Nest. At that time new scopes were $195 but I paid $125 for a used scope trading in my 3" reflector. The mount was quite a nice affair being able to used in Alt/Az or equatorial form. Also the scope had a draw tube focuser but I am not sure if yours has one, perhaps being modified over the years.
Have you got the whole telescope + box or just the OTA? I owned one of these Royal Astro 3" F16 refractors back when I was very young. I think I bought it in 1969, a used scope from the "Amateur Astronomers Supply Company" in Crow Nest. At that time new scopes were $195 but I paid $125 for a used scope trading in my 3" reflector. The mount was quite a nice affair being able to used in Alt/Az or equatorial form. Also the scope had a draw tube focuser but I am not sure if yours has one, perhaps being modified over the years.
No....just the OTA ....wish it did have the original box ...!!
