EssexMigrant

And oi! Cheeky sod! I ain't that old lol

It must be me then! I saw it about tweny years ago!

Cheers

Max

Yes I think the rear cap is to prevent dust getting in. Sounds like it was lost and this metal one was used instead.

Thank for keeping an eye open Andy! OK, so do I gather from what you say above, that there was definitely a PLASTIC dust cap on the mirror end, and the metal one is the tube cap?

Cheers

Max

Looking again at the manual, I think this cap is number five in figure 6. I'm guessing that the original plastic (?) mirror dust cap was either broken or lost?

What do you think guys?

Max

Richard o Brian

You're showing your age Nick!

Hi Andy!

As there was no sign of threading, I went ahead with the hammer plan! Bingo; it worked! This cap was just forced on very tightly, and I had to work it very slowly loose, by applying even taps in forty five degree increments. Eventually the countersinking for the screws came into view, so I could judge squareness. The first thing I noticed was 'bodged' screws; some idiot not using the right sized screwdriver. Clearly this had been removed by a previous owner. However, all the seals on the collimation screws were intact. The mirror was loose enough to move in the cell, but the retaining clamp screws were tight; no pinched optics! I first dusted with a camel hair brush, and then breathing on the surface clearly saw the odd grease spot, and condensation marking. So, using my usual method of cleaning, one small drop of washing up liquid on a cotton rag tissue heavily moistened, I proceeded to wash the surface. Having satisfied myself that the mirror was sufficiently clean, I then lightly dryed the surface with a sweeping motion of the surface and checked it. It was as close to perfect as possible, with the only visible sign a very minor scratch that had been caused somehow in it's earlier life.

I have now replaced the cell, and cleaned the secondary also, which was worse. A question here, were the secondary mirror's edges painted silver at the factory?

My next job is to clean the sighting mirror, and then collimate.

Number one question, am I right in thinking that this cap should be on that end as a dust protector? Also/or is a plastic cap missing, and this metal cap the tube cap??

Any help guesses appreciated.

Max

p.s. note the number

With the age of it, I'd guess it screws on to the tube? Tal seemed to like threading everything with their early stuff

Hi Andy!

All I can say is, that there's no sign of any concealed screws anywhere on the rim. And thinking about it, it wouldn't make sense anyway. If this cap was going to be screwed on, it would be done with visible screws so that the mirror could be removed and cleaned. I'll get a hammer and wooden drift later, and apply a little county kindness to it!

Will report back

Max

Thanks for that Andy, but still confused! Mine appears to be different again. It is a plain metal cap, with no fixing screws; here's a piccy:

Hi Nick!

Thanks for those two links! When looking at the manual the penny dropped; I think that the cap on the mirror end is the tube cap! I don't think that there is a cap over the base? As soon as you or Andy confirms my suspicions, I'll make a more determined attempt to remove it.

Cheers

Max

The cap will just be a tight fit over the end, I'd guess.

Hi Andy,

I thought and hoped you might be along; tragedy the group finished!

Anyway, I found a pic of my original here:

Stargazers Lounge - EssexMigrant's Album: The Unusual Tal-M - Picture

I'm guessing this new (older) one is the same under the cap? Can you confirm that yours has a push fit metal cap that pushes off please?

Cheers

Max

this is one for the group

scouring the net to see what i can find

got an old manual here, its a PDF, page 11

http://www.teleskopfreunde-bayern.de/tal-1M-Manual__engl_.pdf

Hi Nick,

Thanks for that, but mine's the Tal M, not the Tal 1-M; although I do have a couple of those!

Cheers

Max

Hi all,

I've just bought another Tal M! This is the earlier gray jobby with differences to my later one. I can't at this moment get to my later one, and have a question. I seem to recall that the later version is collimatable, but this earlier one doesn't appear to be; is this right please? I've tried firmly to remove the end, and don't want to damage it, but I'm not sure whether or not it's stuck on with some form of glue. That wouldn't make sense, because surely access to the mirror is required occasionally? The only thing that makes sense in my mind, is that the cap should be removeable to get access to collimation screws?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers

Max