2. Other

1958 Cave 10 inch f-7 Telescope

An unusual original Cave 10 inch f 7.2 Newtonian Telescope. E-mail me at alpaslow@yahoo.com

This instrument still has original mirror coatings dated Aug 10, 1958 !
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  • This is my unrestored 1958 Cave 10 inch f - 7.2 Telescope. It features an original coatings mirror. The instrument has also the original finder scope and rack and pinion focuser. I and a friend made a 400 mile round trip to the Gettysburg , PA area to obtain this wonderful instrument. The telescope has two leather bands with handles to help pick up the tube assembly, and place it into a wooden custom crate or box apparently made by the original owner! If you have a Cave Telescope or questions about this telescope - I'd like to hear from you! E-mail me at: alpaslow@yahoo.com

    This is my unrestored 1958 Cave 10 inch f - 7.2 Telescope. It features an original coatings mirror. The instrument has also the original finder scope and rack and pinion focuser. I and a friend made a 400 mile round trip to the Gettysburg , PA area to obtain this wonderful instrument. The telescope has two leather bands with handles to help pick up the tube assembly, and place it into a wooden custom crate or box apparently made by the original owner! If you have a Cave Telescope or questions about this telescope - I'd like to hear from you! E-mail me at: alpaslow@yahoo.com

  • Close-up of the Equatorial mount. In this photo you can see the famous black with "white speckles paint" job trade-mark of early Cave instruments. Note the big locking knobs on both axises and the brass setting circles. In this image polar axis is not quite pushed down all the way into its housing.

    Close-up of the Equatorial mount. In this photo you can see the famous black with "white speckles paint" job trade-mark of early Cave instruments. Note the big locking knobs on both axises and the brass setting circles. In this image polar axis is not quite pushed down all the way into its housing.

  • The 10 inch has a rotating tube cradle, that nicely attaches to the mount by 2 wing nuts. A very nice and convient set-up !

    The 10 inch has a rotating tube cradle, that nicely attaches to the mount by 2 wing nuts. A very nice and convient set-up !

  • The small brass plate tells it all !!

    The small brass plate tells it all !!

  • Close-up of original finder and rack and pinion focuser. Both items are in - "like new" condition. The chrome on the draw tubes of the focuser are absolutely flawless. It's hard to believe they are 47 years old !! Note the leather strap with handle.

    Close-up of original finder and rack and pinion focuser. Both items are in - "like new" condition. The chrome on the draw tubes of the focuser are absolutely flawless. It's hard to believe they are 47 years old !! Note the leather strap with handle.

  • This image taken from the back of the 10 inch primary has the date of 8-10-58 in ink on the original Pancro mirrors Inc sticker. This was the company that aluminized almost all of Caves mirrors for many years. This of course now dates the instrument of being a 1958 model. When I saw this I was "floored". This telescope has the original coatings !! To my suprise they are somewhat useable !! The mirror also has written in pencil 72 - 1/2 inches and 1/7.2, also the name Mr. Burke appears on the mirror. The original coatings combined with a clean rack and pinion focuser, finder scope and tight equatorial mount substantiate the previous owners claim that this was a barely used instrument !!

    This image taken from the back of the 10 inch primary has the date of 8-10-58 in ink on the original Pancro mirrors Inc sticker. This was the company that aluminized almost all of Caves mirrors for many years. This of course now dates the instrument of being a 1958 model. When I saw this I was "floored". This telescope has the original coatings !! To my suprise they are somewhat useable !! The mirror also has written in pencil 72 - 1/2 inches and 1/7.2, also the name Mr. Burke appears on the mirror. The original coatings combined with a clean rack and pinion focuser, finder scope and tight equatorial mount substantiate the previous owners claim that this was a barely used instrument !!

  • The telescopes 3 rd owner ? Mathmatican Dick Cooper of Gettysburg College shown in the picture; obtained this telescope from Mr. Wayne Miller in 2001. The story is Wayne obtained the telescope from his father (Miller) who is alleged to be the telescopes original owner. The Millers lived on a farm in Littletown, PA which is 10 miles south of Gettysburg. Surely they must have enjoyed some beatiful nights on the farm with the dark skies of the 50's !!

    The telescopes 3 rd owner ? Mathmatican Dick Cooper of Gettysburg College shown in the picture; obtained this telescope from Mr. Wayne Miller in 2001. The story is Wayne obtained the telescope from his father (Miller) who is alleged to be the telescopes original owner. The Millers lived on a farm in Littletown, PA which is 10 miles south of Gettysburg. Surely they must have enjoyed some beatiful nights on the farm with the dark skies of the 50's !!

  • ... Nice original plastic pointer !!

    ... Nice original plastic pointer !!

  • Image of the polar housing and colum in the basement of my home. These images were taken prior to cleaning up of the dusty mount !

    Image of the polar housing and colum in the basement of my home. These images were taken prior to cleaning up of the dusty mount !

  • Another angle of the polar housing. Interestingly Cave telescopes from this time do not have bearings in their mountings!!

    Another angle of the polar housing. Interestingly Cave telescopes from this time do not have bearings in their mountings!!

  • side view Polar housing. Note the big locking knob for the polar shaft. (Mount still dusty ! )

    side view Polar housing. Note the big locking knob for the polar shaft. (Mount still dusty ! )

  • Another view of the cradle assembly and the dec circle.

    Another view of the cradle assembly and the dec circle.

  • Polar axis with brass RA circle. Note the spacer or bearing.

    Polar axis with brass RA circle. Note the spacer or bearing.

  • Here's is something you don't see too often - an original red Cave "bakelite" spacer - possibly bearing surface. This spacer is nice and original and keeps the circle "comfortably fit" between the polar axis housing and the Dec. housing. The material feels like the stuff they made old plastic radios from in the 50's & 60's. I'm sure many of these spacers are broken and have cracked off with age. Well, here's an original one !!

    Here's is something you don't see too often - an original red Cave "bakelite" spacer - possibly bearing surface. This spacer is nice and original and keeps the circle "comfortably fit" between the polar axis housing and the Dec. housing. The material feels like the stuff they made old plastic radios from in the 50's & 60's. I'm sure many of these spacers are broken and have cracked off with age. Well, here's an original one !!

  • After removing the bakelite spacer I removed the brass hour circle. ....More pictures to follow !!! See page 2. (Click on page two to your left.)

    After removing the bakelite spacer I removed the brass hour circle. ....More pictures to follow !!! See page 2. (Click on page two to your left.)

  • Original Cave brass setting circle is 6 inches accross.

    Original Cave brass setting circle is 6 inches accross.

  • Another view of the hour circle.

    Another view of the hour circle.

  • The polar shaft reads a 1.5 inch diameter. (The image shows a somewhat less but that is only due to camera position.)

    The polar shaft reads a 1.5 inch diameter. (The image shows a somewhat less but that is only due to camera position.)

  • Beautiful Brass Cave Declination circle with an un-broken original condition plastic pointer !

    Beautiful Brass Cave Declination circle with an un-broken original condition plastic pointer !

  • Cradle and circle

    Cradle and circle

  • Three Counterweights of the mount. It appears these weights are rusted quite a lot lenght-wise along the black & white paint. However much of this"rust" is actually the primer located underneath the paint. The dec. shaft has very apparent rust which will clean up fairly easily with a S.O.S or Brillo pad.

    Three Counterweights of the mount. It appears these weights are rusted quite a lot lenght-wise along the black & white paint. However much of this"rust" is actually the primer located underneath the paint. The dec. shaft has very apparent rust which will clean up fairly easily with a S.O.S or Brillo pad.

  • Untitled photo
  • The Classic 1958 F-7.2 Reflector in the back yard of my home in Bethel Park, PA 15102.

    The Classic 1958 F-7.2 Reflector in the back yard of my home in Bethel Park, PA 15102.

  • The telescope has now been cleaned-up as quite a bit of dust has come off and is quite presentable!

    The telescope has now been cleaned-up as quite a bit of dust has come off and is quite presentable!

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