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Tal Alcor 65mm F7.7 Reflector

Discussion in 'Vintage Telescopes & Equipment' started by Steve_M_M, Sep 13, 2015.

Tal Alcor 65mm F7.7 Reflector

Started by Steve_M_M on Sep 13, 2015 at 12:25 PM

12 Replies 4958 Views 3 Likes

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  1. Steve_M_M

    Steve_M_M New Member

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    Steve_M_M, Sep 13, 2015
    #1
    This telescope has been on my bucket list for about 6 years when I saw the first one posted here. I have not seen one since although someone may have posted one in the extensive "telescope finds" list that I find hard to sort through rather than separate postings. I was lucky to be bored a few days ago and searched "telescope" in the St Loius CL and found this one listed as just that, telescope.

    The build date on this one is March 1988. It's Russian so the build quality is excellent. The box is very nicely made and sports the original all wood inserts. The mount is very sturdy. The Alt/Az locks are adjustable for just the right amount of tension. The slow motions controls work great. The focuser is unbelievably smooth. The mirror is supported by a push pull cell.The kit sports a high quality 15mm eyepiece giving 33x, a barlow to 88x, and an extension to make 133x.

    After 2 nights of testing the optics, I put the quality of this mirror in the magical category. I only have had one other small reflector in that category (6" Nishimura). The views are simply amazing. I am a happy camper!

    IMG_4171[1].JPG IMG_4181[1].JPG IMG_4178[1].JPG IMG_4177[1].JPG IMG_4176[1].JPG IMG_4175[1].JPG IMG_4182[1].JPG IMG_4179[1].JPG IMG_4180[1].JPG
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 15, 2015
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  2. Steve_M_M

    Steve_M_M New Member

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    Steve_M_M, Sep 13, 2015
    #2
    Thought I had added all the pictures. Trying again.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. LewC

    LewC Well-Known Member

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    LewC, Sep 13, 2015
    #3
    Steve! Welcome to this new site. Glad you're here. But, for cryin' out loud, you gotta learn how to post pictures!:p
     
  4. Steve_M_M

    Steve_M_M New Member

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    Steve_M_M, Sep 13, 2015
    #4
    Thanks Lew. As for pictures, it says they are attached even though I don't see them.
     
  5. LewC

    LewC Well-Known Member

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    LewC, Sep 13, 2015
    #5
    Steve, I think there's another button do-thingy you have to push. It took me a while too.
     
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  6. gustavo_sanchez

    gustavo_sanchez Active Member

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    gustavo_sanchez, Sep 14, 2015
    #6
    You must select either thumbnails or full images after uploading.
     
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  7. StaringAtStars

    StaringAtStars Administrator

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    StaringAtStars, Sep 15, 2015
    #7
    Yeah @LewC and @gustavo_sanchez are correct about uploading.
    @Steve_M_M just be sure to click the thumbnails or full image option after uploading the photos. I have gone ahead and shown them all as thumbs, but you can go back and play with the location and sizes.

    Thanks for sharing this with us :)
     
  8. gustavo_sanchez

    gustavo_sanchez Active Member

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    gustavo_sanchez, Sep 15, 2015
    #8
    I now saw them! The scope looks very sturdy! Can you provide a picture looking down the tube?
     
  9. LewC

    LewC Well-Known Member

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    LewC, Sep 15, 2015
    #9
    Almost 2.6-inches aperture - cute!

    About 12 years ago, a neighbor boy showed great interest in my telescopes and astronomy, so I encouraged his mom to by him a telescope, but she didn't. So when I saw a used 4-inch f/6 Tal Newt. complete with mount and clock drive on sale for just $50 at Woodland Hills Camera, I purchased it for the boy and gave it to him as a Christmas gift. The boy and his family moved away soon after but we get a Christmas card from them every year.
     
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  10. NerdThing

    NerdThing Member

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    NerdThing, Sep 15, 2015
    #10
    These are great scopes. Anything by Tal is superbly made and bomb proof.

    Thanks for the photo in the box. Took mine out and could never get it back in right!
     
  11. Andy-H

    Andy-H New Member

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    Andy-H, Oct 31, 2015
    #11
    Lovely scope :)

    I also have an old battleship grey Alcor. Later vintage, '93. Just noticed your interior birchwood case has a slightly different layout to mine.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Not the greatest of pics, but hopefully they show the overbuild. The seamless alu tube is approx 3mm thick and has a thread machined the full length, to help cut down reflections. My original paint has pooled in a couple of areas, so I'm going to re-apply some flat matt black with the aid of a tiny roller brush. Done this to a couple of my bigger Tal newts to great effect.
    Also of note is the single stalk secondary diagonal, holding the small mirror. It's small size, I guess, perhaps explain why the views with this scope are so good. It helps, of course that the primary has been figured rather well. Back to the secondary....... it's adjustable via the two screws on the side of the tube. It has obviously been accurately press formed as it's adjustment range is limited, but is ample.
    I'd like to 'second' the comment regarding the quality of the R&P focuser. Folks like to use the term 'buttery smooth'. My focuser is sublime. In fact I'd go as far as to say, the cows were of high breeding stock and fed on the best grass grown, so smooth is the butteryness of my unit ;) A good re-grease does wonders if you should find yours is a bit rough. Don't forget you can adjust them, just like the bigger Tal R&P's, by gripping the left wheel and turning the right anti-clockwise, to suit.
    The cast steel base is heavy & solid. Just what's needed to help with stability. The threaded pillar is aluminium and extremely thick, again adding to stability. The alt-az mount is superb. Lock the tensioners down just enough to let it be pushed about the sky and the slo-mo wheels track with zero shudder. I regreased both axis some years back. A highly recommended task as I found my original grease was starting to get a bit solid.
    I once did a side by side with my Carton 60/1000. Now this is a cracking wee frac and has to be 'up there' with the best small frac lenses. Everything that I could squeeze out of it's 60mm, I could see as equally well with the Alcor. I was quite taken aback, as I expected the Carton to best the wee Russian newt. Not so. As good as each other.

    I'll stop now as I could harp on all day about this smashing wee scope. If you see one for sale(even if it's the later white tubed version, with sleeve fit pillar and polystyrene interior)...........grab it. You will NOT regret it. Brilliant mechanics, brilliant Optics.

    Cheers,
    Andy
     
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  12. LewC

    LewC Well-Known Member

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    LewC, Oct 31, 2015
    #12
    Andy,
    Firstly, Welcome to AstronomyConnect!
    Secondly, you have a very fine Tal Alcor telescope. Thanks for sharing,
    Any Tal scope is very, very rare here in California. I don't think I've seen more than two in all my years in amateur astronomy, including the one I mentioned above.

    Clear skies,
    LewC
     
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  13. Andy-H

    Andy-H New Member

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    Andy-H, Oct 31, 2015
    #13
    Hi LewC.
    Ta for the welcome. I got ahead of myself and went into my long winded reply before saying hello to everyone, in the 'welcome' thread.

    Being in the UK, one of the few astro advantages we seem to have is the mass of Tal scopes that have been imported since the late 80's. Just a look at the UK ebay & other UK forums etc, shows up a handful of their scopes per month.
    After I got my Alcor(2nd hand, UK£30), I took it to my parents to show my new purchase off. Dad loved it so much he phoned me up one day and asked me to get the one he'd spotted on ebay. Did my duty as #1 son. Cue one happy Dad. 4 months later I got another one for one of his young neices, who had raved about it, after she'd seen it set up in the parents living room during a visit from that side of the family.

    One family. 3 Alcors.

    :eek:
     
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