Polaris Telescope shop

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Alpena67
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Polaris Telescope shop

#1

Post by Alpena67 »


Thought I would share a short story about my first experience with Unitron refractors. I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and my Grandparents lived in Dearborn, Mi. My parents bought me my first telescope in 1976 from K-Mart; it was a Focal brand 50mm/600mm focal length altazimuth refractor. This is what got me interested in Astronomy and observing. Around 1978 I discovered the Polaris Telescope shop on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, Mi. My grandfather took me down to the store to see what was there. The proprietor was an older gentleman named Walt and his main line was Unitron refractors of which he had several there from 60 - 102mm. I was 11yrs old and just in awe of these telescopes. They were regal looking and beautiful to the last detail. Although I didn’t have the money to buy one of these beautiful instruments Walt still took the time to encourage me about Astronomy and said my grandfather and I could come up one evening and look through one of the Unitrons if we liked. I wish we had taken him up on that. I got some brochures and stopped in occasionally but never had the opportunity to get one. As I recall the store was open into the mid 1980’s before it closed. The shop was old and dusty with telescopes set up and parts everywhere you looked but just awesome for anyone into Astronomy. Thanks to my Grandpa and Walt for memories I still cherish to this day. I plan to get a Unitron scope at some point and would like to pick up a 3 or 4” Equatorial when the right one comes along. Thanks for letting me share.
My Optical Obsession:
Jason 313 60mm Equatorial refractor
Sears 4454 80mm Equatorial refractor
Sears 6339 76mm Equatorial refractor
Celestron VX6 152mm Equatorial refractor
Celestron C90 “Orange tube” spotting scope
Celestron C5 "Orange tube" Schmidt-Cassegrain
Celestron C8 “Orange tube” Schmidt-Cassegrain
Celestron C11 “Orange tube” Schmidt-Cassegrain
Criterion/Bausch&Lomb 4000
Criterion Dynamax 8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Meade 8” 2080 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Meade 10” 2120 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Meade 12” LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Jason 35mm 7-15X Binoculars; Celestron 25x100mm Binoculars; Nikon D7200 digital camera
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bladekeeper
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Re: Polaris Telescope shop

#2

Post by bladekeeper »


That's a great story, Rich! Thanks much for sharing it! :)
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100

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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Polaris Telescope shop

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


They are beautiful telescopes and unfortunately getting harder to find today.
I would love to have one myself.
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
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Unitron48 United States of America
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Re: Polaris Telescope shop

#4

Post by Unitron48 »


Great story...great memories! Check out my website, Unitron History Project, at: https://www.unitronhistory.com/. Lots of information and some feature stories!

Dave
Unitron (60mm, 102mm), Brandon 94
Stellarvue SVX127D
http://www.unitronhistory.com

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Albert Einstein
Alpena67
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Re: Polaris Telescope shop

#5

Post by Alpena67 »


Wow; your site is excellent Dave, very cool. I never knew they had a 9” scope. I think it’s great to share all this information so that it is never lost.
My Optical Obsession:
Jason 313 60mm Equatorial refractor
Sears 4454 80mm Equatorial refractor
Sears 6339 76mm Equatorial refractor
Celestron VX6 152mm Equatorial refractor
Celestron C90 “Orange tube” spotting scope
Celestron C5 "Orange tube" Schmidt-Cassegrain
Celestron C8 “Orange tube” Schmidt-Cassegrain
Celestron C11 “Orange tube” Schmidt-Cassegrain
Criterion/Bausch&Lomb 4000
Criterion Dynamax 8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Meade 8” 2080 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Meade 10” 2120 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Meade 12” LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Jason 35mm 7-15X Binoculars; Celestron 25x100mm Binoculars; Nikon D7200 digital camera
Easyironman
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Re: Polaris Telescope shop

#6

Post by Easyironman »


I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan and Polaris telescope shop was nearby. I too visited with my dad and met Walter Grabow in that dusty shop with beautiful Unitron telescopes in lightly stained birchwood cases.
In 1976 at age 16 I purchase a 3" equatorial from him with my monies saved up from a Detroit Free Press paper route. It costs me about $814 which I still remember to this day. I still have this scope in pristine condition.
Thank you for your post.

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