Brand and Model: | Optical Craftsman 4.5" |
Price ($USD): | ($135 in 1965) |
Type: | Newtonian |
Attributes: |
Go-To PEC |
Aperture: | 108mm (4.3") |
f Ratio: | f/10 |
Focal Length: | 1079mm |
Finder: | 6x30 |
Electric Power: | AC |
Mount: | EQ |
Tripod: | pier |
Weight (lbs): | lbs. |
Dimensions (w/h/d): | |
Description: | This scope is no longer made. The 1965 mirror recently tested at 1/10 wave
PTV. Quality optics with some compromises (single stalk diagonal, mirror cell leaves something to be desired). The RA drive added another $65 to the price. Analog setting circles were reasonably accurate. This was a rock solid German Equatorial Mount for this aperture--it was designed for the 6 and 8" scopes. Cast metal rings forming a rotatable tube saddle. Optical Craftsman was a quality name of the 1960s but the company never got a hold of the market like Cave. It migrated away from amateur scopes into Defense and space program optics. I'm indebted to this scope for launching me into amateur astronomy--never dreamed I'd own a 14" but I do! How things have changed! RA drive is an AC synchronous motor--primitive for today but it still works. I'm anxious to get this scope rehabilitated and compare it to other 4" aperture scopes. I will say that the scope set a standard for quality that is rarely met by today's mass production scopes. The mount pointed and held wherever I wanted it to, damping time was never an issue. It was a real shock when I re-entered the hobby to see how poor some contemporary mounts are. |