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My Vintage Celestron C8 2000mm f/10


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My vintage orange tube (1995 - 1977) Celestron C8, twin fork mounted on original wedge mount.

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Edited by M__
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My vintage celestron c8 with upgrades. [updated Sep 2015]

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Edited by M__
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I bet you are chuffed with this one.


 


It looks so clean and tidy.


 


Very impressive scope.


 


And it matches your toolbox  :lol:


Edited by Doc
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Thanks.


 


I just need to carefully clean the exterior of it, the mount is a tad dusty :D


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Looks like it has been kept in cotton wool all its life :thumbsup:

Have you checked the serial no yet? According to Docs list in your welcome thread, I can only see orange tubes prior to 1983.

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Ive just checked and its 803534, so I'm guessing that puts it between 75 -77, the classes tube? It doesn't match up exact with any part serial no. , but fits the criteria of that era I think. If so, this scope is not only a few years older than me, but in better shape too :D


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The dusty wedge mount, reading up about this and apparently this was an optional part that would cost like £250 todays money, didn't the scope cost a fortune back in the day too?

Edited by M__
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I remember lusting after one of these when I was about 16 so that would be 1982 and I had just started an apprenticeship and decided to save for one, I never did buy one, I bought my first car instead a Ford Cortina Mk3, even remember the reg VAR980M.


 


If I remember correctly they were about the same price, again if I remember correctly about £400.


 


 


BTW you have the same table and chairs as me.


Edited by Doc
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Ive just checked and its 803534, so I'm guessing that puts it between 75 -77, the classes tube? It doesn't match up exact with any part serial no. , but fits the criteria of that era I think. If so, this scope is not only a few years older than me, but in better shape too :D

Amazing condition for its age :) .

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haha


 


Im looking to take it out in about 30 minutes to see if it actually works, its cloudy but clear in places, doubt I will have any luck...


 


I will also look into tripods, maybe I will make a fixed mounting post of sorts in the garden as its relatively low light pollution around here.


 


I see a project coming on :)


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Amazing condition for its age :) .

Its got the odd imperfection, no dents, no real knocks. The paint is thin coat, like water based lead paint and I'm certain the states stopped using that in the late 70s in most applications. I guess this is more evidence that 75 -77 seems realistic.

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Ive just been out and can confirm that it is fully working, although the spotting scope isn't that hot  :D


 


The first thing I found was the star Arcturus which appeared very faint but clear with the 25mm lens.


 


 


@doc, I will look into it, maybe I make a fixed post in the garden and invest in a suitable weighted tripod.


 


To add, I just weighed it and including the wedge it comes in at 11.9 kg


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Lovely scopes those and if its from that era it will be well figured optically far better than the Halleys Comet era scopes that were thrown out the door by celestron to cope with high demands.

Whilst I was using my old Tasco 10te I lusted after these scopes in Sky and Telescope but they were way beyond my apprentice wages then.

Yes the wedge was sold as an optional extra but many were shiped with them and the tubular space frame type tripod. An eq6 stainless tubed tripod will take this scope with ease and wouldnt need much modding to make it fit, then you can bring it along to a meet and we can have a look through it :-) :-)

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Today I had a trip out to river valley optics, got chatting to the owner and he seems a nice guy. Anyways, I collected my Baader 10mm eyepiece and purchased some other goodies whilst there.


 


I noticed the diagonal mirror was a bit pitted and tarnish in areas so took it with and decided to replace it for a Meade one, didn't have the budget to stretch for the better skywatcher version but I'm guessing this will be a lot better over the old existing one.


 


I also picked up a polarising filter and a plossl 32mm.....


 


IMG_0371_zpsavx0462c.jpg

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That's a lovely scope and wedge Martin. Not too heavy either. A post in the garden and a tripod for away visits will give you the best of both worlds. Nice one, enjoy!

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Today I had a trip out to river valley optics, got chatting to the owner and he seems a nice guy. Anyways, I collected my Baader 10mm eyepiece and purchased some other goodies whilst there.

River Valley Optics???

Thought we had a new local supplier that I wasn't aware of. In anticipation I punched it into Google and it came up with Rother Valley Optics :facepalm2:

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haha, sorry.

I'm not too good on places, names, although I am like 31 and have resided in this area all my life haha.

Edited by M__
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I'm looking at replacing the spotting scope in favour for a more modern one.

Yea or nah?

It certainly need to come off for a good service and clean at the very least.

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I'm looking at replacing the spotting scope in favour for a more modern one.

Yea or nah?

It certainly need to come off for a good service and clean at the very least.

It would certainly be much more usable if you replaced it with a 9x50 straight or RACI type finder.

 

It's a pity you can't get a bigger orange tube finder to match, but definitely hold on to the old one as it really looks the part with it.

 

I don't think you'd notice much if any improvement visually if you cleaned up the old finder. A pristine 25mm aperture finder won't be up to finding much.

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