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Auction text: Selling a MKIV Fullerscopes mount:
Fullerscopes MKIV telescope mount | eBay
It is at
the moment in original powder crackle finish but am repainting grey
primer. so revised photos to follow. RA and Dec axis mild steel 1.25"
shafts are being cleaned up and re greased. RA wheel in good condition,
worm may need re working. Old spec showed 12" newtonians with cast
aluminium rings so will take newer 14" scopes, very sturdy mount capable
of excellent tracking, easily fitted with AWR goto. Pick up Fareham or
can courier at cost. Buy it now includes Courier free of charge to UK
mainland otherwise extra at cost. Any questions call Chris 07717037633
also advertised eleswhere.
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These are absolutely dreadful auction images considering these are intended to sell the object! Inexplicably photographed in a very dark place. I have brightened the only two auction images worth copying and have increased brightness, contrast and sharpness considerably.
Unless
the seller has all the original nuts and bolts this is more a kit of
parts with some potential in the hands of somebody with metalwork experience and/or
manual skills. Getting replacement, British threaded bolts is not easy in this time of metric standards. Particularly finding coarse threaded replacement in more desirable stainless steel. Metric threads are much too fine and will not grip safely in the soft, light-alloy castings. Not even if the threads are re-cut with the correct equipment as I did myself. Replacing the original shafts in 1.25" Imperial stainless steel would be very desirable unless the mounting was kept indoors and dry. [Bringing it outdoors for each observation is not recommended on the grounds of weight alone!]
Some sort of secure cover in a permanent outdoor set-up is very desirable. Not necessarily in a formal observatory. A secure, waterproof box on a permanent pier would do. A sack truck could be used to move the mounting
on a low pier. One which is stored in a garage or shed with a smooth threshold and hard surface. A tall pier, for a refractor, would require large, sturdy wheels and a smooth, hard surface to run on safely without tipping. I speak from years of experience using the MkIV on various pier heights all of which are endlessly sinking into the lawn or gravelled parking space. Just lifting the bare MkIV onto a pier working alone is hard work in itself. Anything which makes set-up difficult will mean an instrument is hardly ever used.
Manual slow motion to the Polar axis only. [Assuming the worm is still usable] Beacon Hill could supply new worms and wormwheels, drive motors and controls. While AWR has long experience of offering very sophisticated, stepper motor drives for the MkIV, including smart controls and Goto. There is really no need to replicate the original 6" Fullerscopes ring-type wormwheels. Changing to larger wormwheels of [say] 8" or 11"/25cm would allow smaller drive motors with higher accuracy. All without having to resort to drive belts to get enough torque from large stepper motors. The MkIV would make a good base to practice improved bearing types over the original, plain, bronze collars. Taper roller bearings or ball thrust bearings would reduce the torque requirements on the polar axis drive if properly applied.
Seller was originally asking £225 Buy it Now price.
Re-listed at £195 'Buy it Now' or bids/offers over £125.
Note that "Buy it Now" price includes free carriage within mainland UK.
Click on any image for an enlargement.
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