TheSkySearchers

Old surveyor's transit, I have removed the optics. It will be a nice Winter project to keep me busy.

Was going to mount the Vixen Porta ll on it, but that would defeat the grab n go feature of the Vixen.

I think I want to find some type of heavy duty alt-az head for it, then I will have a reason to buy a nice long frac

Any suggestions for a decent head?

Depending on budget but I would recommend the Stellarvue M2C: https://www.stellarvue.com/m2/

Unfortunately like everything else the price seems to have increased again.

Very nice Jeff.
That mount looks like it could support a monster mount/scope!

Wow what a cool find Jeff. It's going to be a fun project to outfit it.

very nice find there , I am of the same opinion as Lady Fraktor .

Juno16 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 23, 2023 10:25 am Very nice Jeff.
That mount looks like it could support a monster mount/scope!

Yes, it's definitely pre-war, the guy I bought it from was in his 80s, and it was his dad's.

I may design a steam punk head made from black cast iron pipes.

Great find, Jeff! I'm looking forward to what you decide to add to or modify it with. Steampunk would be cool, and so is Lady Factor's suggestion!

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Mon Oct 23, 2023 9:56 am Depending on budget but I would recommend the Stellarvue M2C: https://www.stellarvue.com/m2/

Unfortunately like everything else the price seems to have increased again.

After getting some old style piping, and the time to cut and fit it, then getting some stuff from ADM that M2C might be a contender

I would have recommended the AYO II but the pricing starts at $641 USD

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 3:37 am I would have recommended the AYO II but the pricing starts at $641 USD

I'm only alive today because my wife has not figured out how to get rid of my body. That surely will give her some inspiration

A smart man knows where his boundaries are!

I find it amazing that a good Az/Alt now costs as much as a decent EQ mount 10-15 years ago.

I would recommend Skytee 2, solid as rock, has slow motion controls and carry 1 to 3 scopes.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/alt-az ... mount.html

Another good option is any mid size EQ mount in AltAz mode. Here is 127mm ES APO on EXOS2 EQ mount configured that way.

That's a very cool find Jeff; I love it! Would that I could find something like that...

I like your idea of a "steampunk" pipe mount. Back in late 2015 I built a dual-scope pipe mount from 1" piping. Took some welding, but It works really well, though the tripod was a bit lame. I actually still have it all.



If I had that mount, I'd either use the 1" pipe and see how it went, or go to 1 1/2" or even 2". I know plumbing pipe is a "one shot deal" as far as the threads go (pretty nasty), but some valve grinding compound and axle grease afterwards goes a long way to fixing that.

Again, great find; looking forward to seeing what you do with it!