Tasco 76.2mm f/15 refractor

This is my first real telescope - a Tasco 76.2mm f/15 refractor. I'm observing a partial solar eclipse and you can probably tell I haven't the slightest idea about polar alignment yet. The year is 1968. Sometimes I miss the dry and sunny Colorado weather...

 8-inch f/4 Newtonian                                                       

The photo below is a few years after making an awkward Modified English Yoke mount for my first ATM telescope, and 8-inch f/4 Newtonian: Telescopes that didn't work well . The photo below was probably taken in the summer of 1974, but I made the mirror in 1969. That's my sister Maryanne sitting by me and the second incarnation of this telescope. By the way, the tube is aluminum with .25 inch wall thickness - way more than needed but what did I know?

Most importantly to me, it has the first mirror I made. It was probably best there was no one around to tell me that an 8 inch f/4 was too difficult for a 14 year old to attempt on his first mirror.  Sam Brown had it on his figuring chart so I worked away until I got close enough. I still have this now refigured mirror and the original cell I made for it from 1969 and use them in my Springsonian mount: Telescopes .

 12.5-inch f/7.9 Newtonian

I got my first case of aperture fever in high school and ordered a 12.5 mirror kit from Edmund Scientific, the same place I got the kit for the 8 inch mirror. I started right away and even began a truss tube OTA (this is in 1971) but then college was coming up and it all sat on the back burner until 1981 when I finally got around to finishing the mirror. I soon built a classic Dobsonian around it and was amazed at how well it worked - both the mirror and the mount. The views through this 12.5 inch f/7.8 scope blew me away.

Anyway, about 14 years later, after I'd been using my 20 inch for a couple of years, it was apparent I wasn't going to use the 12.5 any more so it was time to sell it. But the Dob mount was crude (believe me, I'm not being modest) so I rebuilt it into the truss tube design seen here. Using the Obsession as inspiration it turned out nicely and I nearly changed my mind about selling it. But I quickly found a buyer so off it went.

                                                                                                                    ~thirty years unfold~

The mirror for this scope had been donated anonymously to the Rose City Astronomers telescope library, and the person who bought it at a telescope library sale in April 2023 posted photos of it in a Cloudy Nights thread and on the RCA's online forum . It had my name inscribed on the side,  and a chip which I remember well.  See the photos below.

So cool to see these photos, and I hope the new owner (Tom Landvatter) will make a wonderful new scope around it. More importantly, may he enjoy the views as much as I did.

 20 inch f/5 Obsession

This is my 20 inch Obsession, #038, purchased 1991. I really, really liked this scope because it was easy to use and the views were way beyond what I'd experienced up to that point. Plus it was beautiful to look at! Dave Kriege knows how to make a great scope, and I only had to wait one month after placing my order for it to arrive - woohoo! The date on the plaque is 9/1/91.

In this photo, taken at Steens Mountain in 1992, the scope is sitting on the first equatorial platform I made. A tracking 20 inch scope was unusual at this time and not having to hand track anymore was awesome. Btw, I have a separate page for my equatorial platforms, see the link in top margin of this page. I built a different platform in 2000 that was lighter, smaller and more stable.

I used this scope until 2004 when I built the 28 inch scope. I found separate buyers for the scope and platforms, and every year the guy I sold old number 38 to brings it to the Oregon Star Party.

12.5-inch f/4 Newtonian

I made this 12.5 inch f/4 Newtonian for my sister Maryanne. I'd always wanted to make a 12.5 inch f/4 mirror and did so in the mid-90's, but had no plans to build a scope around so I sold it to a friend. A few years later Maryanne and her now ex-husband wanted me to build them a scope and I was able to buy the mirror back and built this Dob around it. It's steady as a rock, truly. 

Unfortunately, it was with this mirror that I learned about under-polishing and only discovered my error after getting the mirror back from the coater - the outer inch is slightly frosty. Even so it gives excellent images - you ought to see the Pleiades in this scope!