Updated: 11.17.06
4" Unitron Model 160 Telescope
I remember drooling many a night over a Unitron calalog, glancing at the many models and tons of accessories offered. I coveted even the small 60mm, but ended up with a Montgomery Wards 60mm alt-az, as the Unitrons were well out of my price range.
Some 40 years later, these refractors are in as much demand and highly sought after as a collector's item. I was very fortunate to recently come into possession of a 4" Unitron refractor. Not only was it a 4", but it was the model 160, the Photo-Equatorial! It sat in my closet for almost 3 years after I picked it up, so I finally decided to take it out and inventory the scope. It was missing 6 items, with the threaded counter-balance shaft and the counter-balance weights being show stoppers. Also missing were the clock drive weights, shelf illuminator, short manual RA control (since picked up) and the 5/16" bolts to mount the accessory tray to the tripod (replaced with Home Depot bolts, but will get a good set of SS bolts for it eventually). There is a manual flex cable for the RA axis, but I didn't install that for the pics. A good friend machined a stainless shaft for me (free!), so I requested the diameter of that shaft to be 1.244". Why 1.244"? Well, until I come across a representative set of weights and shaft (or have some machined), I figured that I could use my Losmandy weights from my Titan mount!Here are some views of the scope setup in my living room. Fully assembled, it is a monster, even in this room with 12 foot ceilings. To give a point of reference, the Losmandy counter-balance weight is about 1" below eye level (well, for a short guy like mel!). Click on any thumbnails to see the set of larger images.
As you can see, the scope is driven by the mechanical brass clock, a true work or art. Not shown are the 13 eyepieces (OR4, OR5, OR6, H6, SYM7, SYM9, SYM9 x-hair, K12.5, K18, R25, 40 mono, K60 and one unmarked - possibly for the camera tube?). There's also a Super UNIHEX, Herschel wedge, erecting prism, super rack and pinion, Uniclamp camera adapter, and Astro-camera. The right angle prism tube was damaged, but a replacement has already been secured. At the same time, a Polarex Duetron was picked up for it, as well as the solar and moon filters (button types). There are some small scratches on the tube and the dew shield has a couple of small dents, but overall, a very impressive, imposing and beautiful setup. Here's a last view from the front.
The next step is to actually take it outside and view something! 8-)
The moon, star clusters and planets should make nice test targets for the optics. I also have a modified dovetail to mount the 4" cradle on my Titan, so I can check it out more easily. No excuses now. Pictures of the accessories are forth coming. Stay tuned...