Sears 4454 3” Equatorial Refractor

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Alpena67
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Sears 4454 3” Equatorial Refractor

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Post by Alpena67 »


I just picked up one of these for a good price. Always wanted one when I was a kid. I was impressed how sharp the optics were looking at different objects during the day. I admit I have a soft spot for these old Towa refractors. Considering the low cost they perform very well. I haven’t had a chance to get it under the stars yet but am looking forward to it. I purchased an Antares .96 to 1.25 hybrid diagonal so I can use my 1.25 eyepieces in it. Curious if anyone here has or had one and how they liked it.
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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Thefatkitty Canada
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Re: Sears 4454 3” Equatorial Refractor

#2

Post by Thefatkitty »


Nice! I have a similar model, a Jason 324 Saturn. I agree with you on the Towas; I have 5 fracs and 3 reflectors made with their optics, love them all. Quite frankly, I really like mine. I made a post the other day about it, pretty much sums it up for me :D

As for the diagonal, I found the drawtube was the same OD as a 1.25" diagonal, so I just made this for it; bit of thick plastic, duct tape to hold it together, and hose clamps for tightening. Makes for a field of view at 1.25" instead of .965". It's kinda basic, but it's worked for me for a few years:

Image Image


Also, you'll find the focuser knobs are probably a bit small. Putting jar lids on top of them really helps with fine focus.

Image


Just my two cents for what it's worth. As usual, not much :lol:

Enjoy your new scope and post a pic if you can :D

All the best,
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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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Sears 4454 3” Equatorial Refractor

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Post by Lady Fraktor »


A very nice refractor, I hope you get a chance to get it out under the stars soon :)
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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Alpena67
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Re: Sears 4454 3” Equatorial Refractor

#4

Post by Alpena67 »


Some good ideas; I will post a pic or 2 soon. I am excited to get this thing out. I am still casually hunting for a nice 3 or 4” Unitron but in the meantime def will keep busy.
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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