Old Tasco 11TR Reflector and Jason Model 311 Refractor "stacked" on my Astroview EQ Mount

[orion25]

How many of you have had either (or perhaps both) of these scopes at some point in your lives? I dusted off these old scopes and spent some focused time finding appropriate tube rings and rigging them to the Astroview mount I use for my Orion StarMax 127. I found 140mm tube rings a snug fit for the Tasco. Couldn't find an exact fit for the Jason (about 70mm around) so I purchased some 75mm rings and "shimmed" them up with felt. I topped the reflector with the refractor (surprisingly light combination but kinda awkward getting it on the mount AND out of the house, LOL). I left the original focusers on and purchased some Antares .965 eyepieces (25mm, 17mm and 7.5mm) which work famously (nice 52 degree FOV and decent eye-relief). I'm really proud of myself and have been enjoying the nostalgia of using these "classic" department store scopes again. Ah, to be a kid again!

Reggie

[orion25]

EDIT: I meant to say the refractor was about 70mm in diameter (not around)...well, really closer to 65mm.

[Jim Steele]

Lovely, they don't make them like that anymore..

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

A former colleague still has the old Tasco 114mm F=900mm Newt on the original mount. Nice starter scope way back when, and still gives good images. Difficult to get the 0.965" EPs however.

[orion25]

A former colleague still has the old Tasco 114mm F=900mm Newt on the original mount. Nice starter scope way back when, and still gives good images. Difficult to get the 0.965" EPs however.

Hey, Michael, there is a company here in the United States that still sells .965 eyepieces. The Antares EPs are very good. Here is where I got mine  http://www.optcorp.com/antares-25mm-plossl-eyepiece-965inch.html

Cheers,

Reggie

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Hey, Michael, there is a company here in the United States that still sells .965 eyepieces. The Antares EPs are very good. Here is where I got mine  http://www.optcorp.com/antares-25mm-plossl-eyepiece-965inch.html

Cheers,

Reggie

That is an option. You do sometimes see 0.965" EPs coming up second-hand, and APM in Germany also sells some (often second-hand). The alternative is to change the focuser

[orion25]

Hey, Michael, there is a company here in the United States that still sells .965 eyepieces. The Antares EPs are very good. Here is where I got mine  http://www.optcorp.com/antares-25mm-plossl-eyepiece-965inch.html

Cheers,

Reggie

This link shows the entire Antares line of .965 EPs: http://www.optcorp.com/eyepieces/all-eyepieces-not-sets-kits.html?e_series=2868

[orion25]

That is an option. You do sometimes see 0.965" EPs coming up second-hand, and APM in Germany also sells some (often second-hand). The alternative is to change the focuser

Yes, you do see some second-hand. I hear that you want to avoid any EPs with "H", "S" or "R". I was trying to avoid changing the focuser if I could (afraid of messing things up, LOL). I don't expect to do too much with these old scopes other than casual observing though. Thanks for your reply 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

H for Huygens HM for Huygens-Mittenzwey and SR  for Symmetric Ramsden are certainly best avoided, whatever the barrel diameter. K for Kelner is a clear step up, as ar ethe "SYM" for symmetric achromat (fairly similar to Plossl). OR for orthoscopic tend to be best. The problem with all these designs is short eye relief at short focal length, because they are scaled designs (shorter focal length versions are just down-sized versions of the larger ones). By replacing the focuser, you get access to more modern designs, with longer eye relief, and generally better views.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

BTW, I gather this 1.25" focuser would be an almost direct replacement for the one on the Tasco:

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p777_1-25--Okularauszug-fuer-Newton-Reflektoren---kurzbauend.html

(German language, unfortunately)

[orion25]

BTW, I gather this 1.25" focuser would be an almost direct replacement for the one on the Tasco:

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p777_1-25--Okularauszug-fuer-Newton-Reflektoren---kurzbauend.html

(German language, unfortunately)

Danke, Michael!