Manual tracking?

[Manok101]

I seem to remember reading a couple of years ago that in the early days of the large aperture refractors that there was some sort of weighted tracking system involved. I was wondering if anyone here has heard of such a thing, and if not would such a thing be possible? I'd love to see plans if anyone knows of some.

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[RikM]

I don't know but I could imagine a weighted clock drive with the correct gearing to be suitable for turning the RA axis.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Weighted clock drives were used, but a solution like that is far more expensive than a simple RA stepper motor.

[L8-Nite]

Google.......  

Telescope Reviews: Post a Picture - Mechanical Clock Drive's

[Ludd]

I had a visit to the Mill Hill Observatory in January which involved riding our bikes from Greenwich, via various important astronomical sites in London.  We viewed the moon through the magnificent 1862 Grubb refractor there, and that is driven by a weight (like a grandfather clock mechanism) and seems might smooth and accurate.  Perhaps a bit expensive for an amateur to copy though...