COMPLETED - Meade 14 inch ACF F10 *** SOLD ***

[astronomer2002 13]

Having moved to the F8 SCT version I have decided to sell my 14 inch Meade ACF F10 OTA. Can't really justify keeping it any longer as a 'spare'.

This is just the OTA with a Losmandy plate attached, no finder or eyepieces. I used it with a Moonlite focuser, which I have repurposed,  so there is just the visual back, please see the photo's.

The optics are in superb condition and the tube just has a few marks on the paintwork.  The first owner stuck a couple of velcro pads on the OTA for sticking accessories such as the dew heater on.

The scope has always been kept in a heated observatory

It is a very heavy telescope, circa 28Kg, so you will need something like an Eq8 to mount it.

This really is a pick-up only, though I do have part of the original box to make transportation easier. Scope is in Maidenhead in the Thames Valley. Could arrange a part-way meet and as we often go to Devon it would be especially convenient for anyone near the M4-M5 route from the Thames Valley down to Devon.

 

Asking £2300

 

Edited April 16 by astronomer2002
add meet-up options

[JamesF 11,881]

Every time I see a Meade or Celestron 14" SCT up for sale I think I'd love to try one.  Fortunately for the bank balance I have nowhere to put it at the moment.  Once the observatory is finished though...

James

[astronomer2002 13]

16 minutes ago, JamesF said:

Every time I see a Meade or Celestron 14" SCT up for sale I think I'd love to try one.  Fortunately for the bank balance I have nowhere to put it at the moment.  Once the observatory is finished though...

James

James,

They don't come up that often. I waited over a year before this one came up when I purchased it from the original buyer about 5 years ago to replace a 12inch SCT. Looks like people keep  the best ones as they don't crop up very often on the s/h market. I have 'stored' it for 2 years since moving to the F8 version. As I have an old C14 this F10 was just too similar although it has a larger, flatter, field making it a better all round scope. The older C14 is basically a planetary imaging scope and the later Edge versions horrendously expensive.

If you have a stalled observatory project there is nothing that galvanises the build process better than having a scope ready to install!

Edited March 7 by astronomer2002

[JamesF 11,881]

Yes, I idly keep an eye on s/h prices and they certainly don't come up that often.

I promised myself no new big astro spending until the observatory is completed though.  The build isn't stallled.  Just taking a fair while given all the other things I have  going on.  My wish is to have it completed for this winter, though hopefully I can have it usable in the next couple of months.

James

[Lockie 5,109]

This could be someones ultimate observatory scope. We literally used 14" Meade's LX200's when I was Uni, but the ACF version, I don't think that was even a thing back then.

Good luck with the sale  

[Craney 1,391]

Your telescope collection is the optical equivalent of Roger Vadim's romance history !!!!.....

[kirkster501 2,323]

Wow, what a scope!  Would love one of these for lunar and planets and would work well on my MESU - although even that may start to struggle with this, the TEC140 and FSQ all loaded at the same time.  I think I'd risk it but it's just a tad too rich for me though at the moment, the focuser would be another £350 (at least) on top.  Then a CCDT67..... 

GLWTS

Steve

[ollypenrice 22,803]

I have the non-ACF version as a visual instrument and was very pleasantly surprised by how good it is. I dare say this will be even better. It's worth remembering that, heavy as it is, it's still an incredibly compact 14 inch.

Olly

[kirkster501 2,323]

Indeed Olly.  I love SCT's.  Useless, by and large, for deep sky imaging in the UK with our rubbish seeing.  But super for planets and lunar and I love both of those.  And great for visual as well.   I'd have made Ian an offer on this but I just shelled out summer holidays and I'm a bit broke now......

[JamesF 11,881]

Yes, I have a mental note to ask Ian if it's still available once I have the observatory completed.  Sadly progress has slowed a bit recently, but I might take some time off to speed things because I'm really not enjoying work at the moment and it seems to be eating a lot of my time.  I could do with a bit of a break.

James

[astronomer2002 13]

Looks like the scope will be going abroad - if I can find a better box to put it in for the journey. The firm offers I have had have all been from EU countries and want the scope sent to them.

I wonder if anyone here has a large box they aren't going to use?

I really wanted to sell it in the UK but can't hang on to it forever, there's a large hole in my bank account made by the 16 inch ACF.

Ian B

[mert 195]

Stunning scope, if only it had a mount.

[gorann 2,790]

On 30/03/2019 at 17:05, astronomer2002 said:

Looks like the scope will be going abroad - if I can find a better box to put it in for the journey. The firm offers I have had have all been from EU countries and want the scope sent to them.

I wonder if anyone here has a large box they aren't going to use?

I really wanted to sell it in the UK but can't hang on to it forever, there's a large hole in my bank account made by the 16 inch ACF.

Ian B

Nice scope indeed. I am sure it will be well taken care of even if it leaves Britain but you better ship it before a hard brexit!

[Cleetus 80]

9 hours ago, gorann said:

Nice scope indeed. I am sure it will be well taken care of even if it leaves Britain but you better ship it before a hard brexit!

You obviously mean a "Clean" brexit but I'll forgive you!

[kirkster501 2,323]

I am buying this scope from Ian, I have long wanted a high quality, large aperture, flat field corrected SCT and have been waiting for the right one to become available.  Me and Ian had a long chat about it last night.  The scope sounds magnificent and Ian is a lovely chap.   Financially the timing could have been better for me but these are rarer than hens teeth and cannot let this opportunity go buy; these scopes are mega-bucks brand new!

I'l need to spend another grand for a Moonlite focuser, dew shield, reducer and motor focus but to get this scope that is money well spent.

Edited April 4 by kirkster501

[sloz1664 959]

Good luck on your new purchase. A fabulous scope, by all that I have read over the years and you will do it justice on the Mesu.

Steve

[astronomer2002 13]

Scope now gone to Steve. 

Yes, I am sad to see it go but I can't keep storing 14 inch SCT's

When I've recovered from this wrench maybe I'll list the 14 RCX 

Ian B

 

[kirkster501 2,323]

The scope is now mounted in my obs, and lovely scope it is too    Will post some pics later.  It has a new home now Ian where it will be much enjoyed so it is in a good place  

Not often a scope like this comes up and when they do just have to bite the bullet and go for it.  My finances are wiped out for the next month or so!