What is this?

[natandpercy]

Does anyone know what this is and what we should do with it? We unearthed it at the bottom of the garden at a house we just bought. It was in a hut that had rotted away. We have some lenses we also found in the house.

[emadmoussa]

Oh my!! Telescope apart...this is a very expensive mount - if it works -...looks like a Paramount to me.

[emadmoussa]

[natandpercy]

Thanks. It looks a lot older than that though - it could have been there for 40 plus years! It looks like some parts of the mount are made of wood and they have rotted.

Any idea what we should do with it? Would anyone want something like this, or do we take it to the tip?

[emadmoussa]

My suggestion is at least give it to somebody who might be able to use the parts or magically get it to work for visual astronomy.

Does the telescope have an intact mirror?

[natandpercy]

How would I find out - I know nothing about telescopes.

[Jim Steele]

To check the mirror simply look down the top of the tube and see if it reflects i suspect it prob needs re polishing and silvering but it looks too good to send to the tip. Maybe contact a local astronomy club with view to donating it?

[John]

I think the local astronomy club idea is a good one. I'm sure someone would be interested in popping around and having a look at it.

There are links to quite a number of astronomy clubs at the bottom of this web page:

http://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/

[natandpercy]

Thanks for your suggestions - if any of you are in the Manchester area and fancy coming to have a look let me know. I will try to contact a local club.

I'm too scared to move it so i don't think I can look down the tube!

[athornett]

Someone's pride and joy, possibly home made? Certainly not a paramount

Andy

[natandpercy]

The owner of the house died so he probably neglected it in his old age. There are the remnants of a little fixed seat near it so I presume he spent quite some time out there looking in the sky.

[athornett]

It is quite intreging - can you post some more photos? Perhaps a few close ups? Are there any name plates on the mount or telescope, perhaps near the focuser?

Andy

[emadmoussa]

I'm not sure why such a medium size aperture - or at least how it appears - has such a long tube! Don't know much about old designs though...so be free to laugh at my note.

[natandpercy]

I couldn't see any name plates - i'll probably need to get a ladder for a closer inspection! I'll post some more photos later this evening. I will also take some of the box of lenses we found in the house as I presume they must go with the telescope but I might be wrong.

[emadmoussa]

I couldn't see any name plates - i'll probably need to get a ladder for a closer inspection! I'll post some more photos later this evening. I will also take some of the box of lenses we found in the house as I presume they must go with the telescope but I might be wrong.

When you say ''lenses'', do you mean eyepieces?

Something like this

[emadmoussa]

Someone's pride and joy, possibly home made? Certainly not a paramount

Andy

Having opened the bigger image - no, it's not a Paramount. But this mount seems to have a potential if rebuilt.

[Zakalwe]

Looks like a pile of rusty scrap to me. An old long focal-length Newtonian.

Time to get the scrap-man in.

[Astrobits]

Looks fairly typical of a home-made newtonian from 50+ years ago. The bricks give an indication that it is probably a 6" diameter and possibly around f/10+. The focusser is almost certainly either 0.965" fitting or RAS threaded. If the mirror is still there it might be useable as a blank for a new mirror. I can't see much of the rest being of any value beyond scrap. If it has any significant history then it might be a museum piece.

Nigel

[ollypenrice]

Still, let's respect the passion of the person who made and used it. It had its role in the history of amateur astronomy even if it just gave someone pleasure.

Olly

[Luke]

Sorry, can't help with info, but just wanted to say I love that photo. It makes me wonder how much joy the person who owned it got from it and what fantastic views they had.

[JamesF]

Looks like someone put a lot of effort into making that. It might look rather basic by modern standards, but I bet it was quite a serious bit of kit when it was being used regularly.

James

[Zakalwe]

Its a shame that nature has had her way with it. Unfortunately she has though, and it's a valid demonstration of entropy, or the Buddhist maxim that all things are impermanent (Anicca).

It undoubtedly gave pleasure to the user, but going by the picture, I reckon that its beyond economical repair.

[RT65CB-SWL]

It would make a nice restoration project if one has the time and patience.

[ollypenrice]

Yes. I think that the best tribute to this old instrument is the photograph posted first. It's very poignant and thought provoking.

Olly

[Herrman]

Hi,

The OTA reminds me very much of the Newtonians advertised in Charles Frank catalogues that I used to gloat over during the early 1970s

Herrman