Top of the line Quality Control

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FerrariMX5
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Top of the line Quality Control

#1

Post by FerrariMX5 »


Celestron has been noted for a very high standard of quality control.

We know that there was a time that spanned perhaps five years for all manufactures (1985-1990), a time where there was a lot of demand, so quality control was not able to uphold the same high level of quality to meet the number of units required to hold their market share.

A lot of changes have happened over the years for Celestron, and yet it has been a strong survivor.

Optically, what years do you think were their absolute best?
All years of manufacturing, optically.
Have they always had the same high standards?
(I am most interested in hearing about the Tasco years, and then the first 5 years that followed afterwards).

What years were challenging for Celestron?
I know there are a lot of collectors out there who have SCT's spanning many decades and have intimate bench knowledge.

I've read about early units that were sold to universities that were of exceptional quality and were priced to reflect that quality.
Those are rare and I doubt very seriously I would ever come across one of them.

Tony
:sprefac: Vintage Celestron NS8 Circa, 2002.
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Re: Top of the line Quality Control

#2

Post by JayTee »


If my memory serves me correctly, I believe their best optical years were early on where special care was given to every scope that left the factory. Remember they were in direct competition with the large Newt manufacturers like Cave, Criterion, and Edmonds. I had many friends in the Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS) who had early versions of the C8 and it was a stunning instrument. At that time, Tom Cave was actually a member of the LAAS. It was a great time to be involved with telescopes, especially in the greater L.A. area!

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
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Re: Top of the line Quality Control

#3

Post by Thefatkitty »


I know this is my pride and joy, from the early 80's when Celestron used Vixen parts. Unfortunately I don't have the Super Polaris mount that went with it, but the OTA will suffice. I use the CG4 mount that came with my C80-HD. One of the first C80's:

0002.jpg
0003.jpg
0001.jpg

I also have a C80-HD made in '97, the last model of C80 made before the Tasco buyout. I've been told that this model also had the last of the Vixen optics put into these, and the views would have me agree.

0004.jpg

On that note, I would take any orange-tube Celestron in a heartbeat; also the black-tube scopes with the orange lettering from the first half of the 80's.

Be interesting to see what others post; I quite enjoy the history of it all!
Mark

"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4 & AZ-EQ5 mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.

H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.

Oh yeah, and Solar Cycle 25 :D
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Re: Top of the line Quality Control

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


For refractors definitely the period they were partnered with Vixen, for SCTs the time before Tasco when they actually made their own telescopes.
About the best I would say with the Synta partnership/ ownership is it provided consistency to the product again.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
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Graeme1858 Great Britain
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Re: Top of the line Quality Control

#5

Post by Graeme1858 »


Their Quality Control went out of the window the day they made my 9.25 SCT. The black coating started to peel away from the inside of the OTA when it was 18 months old.

Their Customer Service was the worse I have ever experienced, from any company! They said I must have caused it and it wasn't their fault! Completely worthless warranty.

Regards

Graeme
______________________________________________
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
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Re: Top of the line Quality Control

#6

Post by FerrariMX5 »


Graeme1858 wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:10 am Their Quality Control went out of the window the day they made my 9.25 SCT. The black coating started to peel away from the inside of the OTA when it was 18 months old.

Their Customer Service was the worse I have ever experienced, from any company! They said I must have caused it and it wasn't their fault! Completely worthless warranty.

Regards

Graeme
and how long ago was that?
Ahhh,,, Okay, it was November of 2018



Tony
:sprefac: Vintage Celestron NS8 Circa, 2002.
The speed of light: 299,792,458 Meters per Second
The speed of time: One Second per Second.
The speed of gravity: 299,792,458 Meters per Second
Warp 10: Touching all points in the universe at the same time.
Welcome to the Universe (Its bigger than you think).
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Re: Top of the line Quality Control

#7

Post by Graeme1858 »


I bought the telescope in November 2018. The paint peeled this year. Clearly a manufacturing defect. These things are designed to be robust for a decade or two!
______________________________________________
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
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