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How do you come across vintage/classic equipment?

Discussion in 'Vintage Telescopes & Equipment' started by george, Nov 24, 2015.

How do you come across vintage/classic equipment?

Started by george on Nov 24, 2015 at 7:42 PM

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  1. george

    george Developer

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    george, Nov 24, 2015
    #1
    So @Turk just posted another great find in a recent post Byers 58 Mount and I was wondering how you guys usually come across these finds. Since opening the Vintage Equipment forum I have started to occasionally search craigslist for telescopes, especially ones that are deemed worthy to collectors without much success.

    Do you guys have an outlet or the best places to find this equipment? Is it that people seek you out because they know you are a collector? Or did you guys just come by these pieces by pure chance.

    Would love to hear your tips and stories about how you guys seek out such great finds.
     
  2. Bomber Bob

    Bomber Bob Well-Known Member

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    Bomber Bob, Nov 26, 2015
    #2
    We have a thread on Cloudy Nights where we post links to for sale ads of vintage gear on the auction sites, AstroMart, Craig's List, and even CN's own Classified Ads. Informally, if we let our fellow CN members know we're looking for a particular scope, we private message each other when that item pops up somewhere.

    But yes, when I have time, I search (and browse!) eBay, CL, etc. myself.
     
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  3. KeithF

    KeithF Well-Known Member

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    KeithF, Nov 26, 2015
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    Mine are pretty much just your basic vintage scopes. All but two were Goodwill purchases. The Tasco 10TE was a local Craigslist purchase, and my rarest one (badge below), is the f/20 that i bought from fellow AC member "Datapanic". It was originally listed on Craigslist, and Dan beat me to it by a few minutes. Lucky for me, Dan is a Cave reflector guy, and didn't think a looooong skinny refractor would get much use, and offered it to me. Maybe some day if I win a small lottery, I will be able to get something more desirable.

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. george

    george Developer

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    george, Nov 27, 2015
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    So it looks like having a bit of luck is a large part of the process and maybe having a network of people also looking out for items. I guess when I'm at the salvation army now I'll need to keep an eye out there as well. I never thought of it but even the parts and hardware could be valuable to someone who is collecting or refurbishing these telescopes/mounts as well right?
     
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  5. StaringAtStars

    StaringAtStars Administrator

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    StaringAtStars, Nov 27, 2015
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    I think Goodwill has an auctions site too and I do remember seeing telescopes on there.

    The downside is people handling the scopes likely don't understand how to grade the condition of the scopes other than looking at the outside and judging the scratches and dents lol. Sometimes you're not entirely sure if everything is there. I guess you may not expect perfect conditions or complete sets when purchasing used though.
     
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  6. KeithF

    KeithF Well-Known Member

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    KeithF, Nov 27, 2015
    #6
    Yep George, either luck with the find, or luck with the highest bid! ;)

    The link on Cloudy Nights that JW mentioned can sometimes be a bad thing. There were times that I had my eye on a scope, and after it was mentioned on that link, the bids would double quite quickly. The person with deepest pockets wins. :(

    And as far as spare parts, there are a couple gentlemen on Cloudy Nights that were kind enough to help me complete a couple of my scopes with spare parts they had laying around.
     
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  7. Turk

    Turk Well-Known Member

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    Turk, Nov 28, 2015
    #7
    Hi George
    It can be a bit of luck, but as you become more experienced and more involved, you develop a group of people that tend to call you with some of their treasures. I get leads all the time through my cave website. Sometimes it just takes immediate action on a find and the willingness to pay a bit more to get what you want. The "barn finds" aglow prices balance out the ones that cost you an arm and a leg.
     
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  8. Frank Dutton

    Frank Dutton Active Member

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    Frank Dutton, Dec 1, 2015
    #8
    Over here eBay, UK Astro Buy & Sell and SGL classifieds.

    When I lived in Aus' I used the appropriatetly named Gum Tree...
     

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