Astro_Baby Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Well I am going to get killed this month - I saw a Unitron 114 (Branded Polarex) its a 60mm with a 900mm focal length on a damaged Alt/Az mount.I thought the price reasonable - I can always sell it on to some rich American on the CN board I suppose Anyway here she is - the tube is nigh on immaculate, the lens coatings are perfect and she came with a diagonal and some original polarex EPs which look ridiclously tiny in .96 fittings. I am now coated in grease and loving it - forgotten old focusers were greased up Its a consequence of not being able to observe at the moment I suppose but expect calls for help in the technical section any second now She reminds me a little of my first scope - similar type of thing but much bigger. I actually bought in a complete whim - it was going to be for my sisters 40th but when I saw it I knew in my heart it wasn't being handed out a gift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Looks really nice that does Mel, a true classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Lovely classic lines - nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Wonderful scope Mel and very collectable. One of those features in a number of photos in my favourite astronomy book, Terence Dickinson's Nightwatch.My 1st ever scope was a sort of cheaper copy of yours - a 1960's Tasco 60mm refractor and that one is considered a bit collectable as well.If you can get a hybrid diagonal and use some modern eyepieces they can deliver excellent views considering the limited aperture.Great find ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 102 42 Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Nice scope Mel, bet it would look good in a corner of a room..................kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 I guess you might have already seen this Mel, but just in case you have not:Unitron Refractors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lulu57 Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Your sister will be gnashing her teeth in envy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted January 28, 2010 Author Share Posted January 28, 2010 Lu - sssshhhhhh - I never told her - instead I am going to get her something more -ahem- useful. Giggles.John - yes thanks for the link. The scope is also similar to my firts ever scope but a fair bit bigger (longer at least).I didn't mention is has its original wooden box as well. The mount tripod is excellent but the mount head is going to need some work unless I get lucky and find a 128 mount head. Eeeek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 I have now had a chance to give Polly the Polarex a go. Star tests showed perfect collimation intrafocus, slight drift extra focus. Considering the scopes older than me thats pretty good and the focuser is very solid and smooth. One of the major headaches using it was the fact that if you slot the scopes Barlow in you need to radically change focus length. The original EPs are best described as 'intersting' Nothing like parfocal by about 6 yards of drawtube With that said the views were very good - excellent in fact.I had a go with the Moon and the scope showed a bit of color fringing - nothing nasty just a slight hint well within what you could live with.The mount is solid as a rock. Granted the scopes quite lightweight but the mount even in its battered state (repairs now underway) showed very little vibration as the scope was manipultade about. I couldnt run the scope against mars as with the mount being knackered trying to keep a target aligned was quite hard work.The dinky little finder is amazingly good - better in many ways than some modern equivalents. Clear, bright and sharp images through it.When time allows and the mount has been repaired I'll do a full on review of it if anyones interested.Anyway in the interim heres some pics - and yes I know the objective is dusty. That will be VERY carefully cleaned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye at night Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 where did you find it?..... just out of interest??Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 It was on Astro Buy and Sell - I spotted it and couldnt belive no one had bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haitch Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Was that from Richard at Skylight? (I got my Dob from him - really nice bloke) I would love one of his f15s if ever I could get past the other 1/2... once you stick a 14" dob in the corner of the room there's not much room for negotiation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crepitis Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Some scopes are as nice to look at, as look through Astro_Baby, from your pictures the Polarex certainly falls into that category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeti monster Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 That is a gorgeous looking piece of kit Astro. What vintage would it be then?I'm sure there's a place in my collection for something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Lovely scope Mel.The eyepieces are interesting in their own right, 2 kellners, a symmetrical (similar to the plossl design) and a ramsden - not names you hear these days.An excellent buy I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 John - I had to look up the symmetrical myself as I had no idea what it was The bigh one on the extreme right is a sun filter for use with a solar projection screen which was sadly missing. Doing some research it seems the solar screens are almost always lost or broken on these.Yeti - I dont know the vintage exactly. Theres no serial numbers and the scope has passed through a few hands but if I had to guess I'd say probably 1960 something although they were still being sold in the 70s.Haitch - no ut wasnt from skylight - private sale. Previous owner wanted space and already had other classic scopes. I was amazed it went so cheap myself and was on astro buy and sell for some time.Sadly this one may well be up for sale as well soon - I have my eye on something a bit more upmarket. If it works out ( and that a really big IF) this one will be up for sale quite soon - as soon as I have done all the repairs to the mount.The mount was wrecked by the couriers so I am working on that right now (aarrggg not another project) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 The sym 9 brings back memories, used that a lot in my first 6" F/8. Had a lot of teensy 0.96" EPs then, including the polarex ortho 25mm (which was quite good), and ortho 5mm (which was a bit of a dud). I even had a "huge" 1,25" 40 mm monochromatic from polarex for wide field. Sold the lot long ago, and the HUGE 40mm would have been dwarfed by my Paragon 40mm now:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyH Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Smashing pics.Great looking scope and a fantastic case.What's the black side plate for? Accessories?Was the brand name Polarex used only in the UK, or europe too? Just wondering?Good luck with the mount rebuild. Cheers,Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Polarex was also the brand name in the Netherlands, so I guess the rest of Europe too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 The black plate on the side is for mounting a pair of small holders. These look like a pair of finder bracket for a very small finder. In fact they were to hold a long thin rod on the end of which you put a solar viewing plate/card. Most Unitrons had a kind of double card. One which acts (I imagine as a kind of field stop to darken the dges of thge viewing plate) and one which is the plate itself.These were rather similar to the things that TAL 150s have supplied with them for solar viewing. Mine has the fitting parts and the solar filter to cover an EP with but not the actual rod and the panel. I'm told very few Unitrons ever had the whole fitting as it was an accessory kit and very few survive as they were quite fragile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyH Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Ahha.Ta. Just wondered. You're going to sell it. WTH Now, what's better than a Unitron? A bigger Unitron? Cheers,Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 You guessed it - a VERY much bigger Unitron. I must need my head examining Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyH Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 As Eric Cartman would say.....Sweeeeeeeeeet.I hope it works out. Swine Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15Rules Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I want it. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 Ahhh Dave - you have seen it of course. Its very lovely and once the mount is restored to its working condition it will be beautiful. Sadly she will have to be sold to fund another bagatelle I expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.