Why not a basic but inexpensive American mount?

I've heard all the horror stories about the Chinese junk mounts
that all mass-market telescope makers now sell. I've also listened
to the growing concern over "job exports" to the Far East, India, etc.
Notice you never heard much about it until it hit the white collar
establishment? Anyway, I'm wondering if it would be so hard, given
CNC
machining is used thoughout, to produce a medium sized American GEM
that
would not cost a fortune? It's obvious from all the problems that the
Chinese or whoever have not got their act together and that their
production
line tolerances are too slack.
So, between a Losmandy and a Chinese made G6 there must be a middle
ground. Where someone could buy a mount that would support things
like
the 5" and 6" refractors AND would work properly without practically
remanufacturing them, or trouble-shooting the electronics?
-Rich

Anyway, I'm wondering if it would be so hard, given CNC machining is used
thoughout, to produce a medium sized American GEM that would not cost a
fortune? So, between a Losmandy and a Chinese made G6 there must be a middle
ground.

The Chinese mounts are really quite amazing when one considers how much they
cost. But there are lots of corners cut and of course labor is cheap. A CG-5
with Drives costs something around $500.

Where I think you have gone astray is that the Losmandy does not cost a
fortune, I think the GM-8 is exactly what you have described and it is really
quite an amazing value.

http://www.losmandy.com/gm8.html

As an ME of sorts, I think if you design a reasonable mount spec'd for 30lbs,
that is all machined, uses good bearings, good gears, good electronics, quality
customer support and all the rest, it is going to cost about some money.

Between the Chinese and the Japanese/US made stuff there is quite a gap and I
think the reason is most people are willing to put up with a fair amount of
crap on a $250 mount or telescope , but they are not willing to on a $900 mount
or scope.

At $900 there are still going to be compromises and the thinking is going to be
"I paid $700 for this thing and the drives still take 20 seconds to respond,
its no better than my CG-5."

I was really quite surprised at the cost of the GM-8. While $1500 is a lot of
money, a good eq mount is not a simple thing, people pay more for stereos and
bicycles every day... One hell of a deal in my book...

jon

The Chinese mounts are really quite amazing when one considers how much they
cost. But there are lots of corners cut and of course labor is cheap. A
CG-5
with Drives costs something around $500.

Hi Jon:

Or even less. I bought my Konus/Synta 8 f/5 with drives and EQ4/CG5 mount for
579.00. Amazing.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

Hi Jon:

Or even less. I bought my Konus/Synta 8 f/5 with drives and EQ4/CG5 mount for
579.00. Amazing.

What is even more amazing is how much better it is than your SCTs. g

Actually I have come to believe we are living in an era where equipment is
inexpensive, values and bargins everywhere one looks. I was really quite
amazed that the Losmandy GM-8 is only $1500. I bet the drives are tighter than
my CG-5. g

jon

What is even more amazing is how much better it is than your SCTs.

Hi Jon:

I would NOT go THAT far! :-)

I will admit, however, that I ran this silly little scope up to 450x tonight on
Mars with amazingly good results.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

On 12 Nov 2003 14:57:48 -0800, (Richard) wrote:

I've heard all the horror stories about the Chinese junk mounts
that all mass-market telescope makers now sell. I've also listened
to the growing concern over "job exports" to the Far East, India, etc.
Notice you never heard much about it until it hit the white collar
establishment? Anyway, I'm wondering if it would be so hard, given
CNC
machining is used thoughout, to produce a medium sized American GEM
that
would not cost a fortune? It's obvious from all the problems that the
Chinese or whoever have not got their act together and that their
production
line tolerances are too slack.
So, between a Losmandy and a Chinese made G6 there must be a middle
ground. Where someone could buy a mount that would support things
like
the 5" and 6" refractors AND would work properly without practically
remanufacturing them, or trouble-shooting the electronics?
-Rich

http://www.universityoptics.com/make.htm

Just scroll down a bit, though I don't care for its seemingly rudimentary
latitude adjustment, at least not at first sight.

Parks's "Petra" may also be made here in the States...

Alan

On 13 Nov 2003 01:18:05 GMT, (Rod Mollise) wrote:


The Chinese mounts are really quite amazing when one considers how much they
cost. But there are lots of corners cut and of course labor is cheap. A
CG-5
with Drives costs something around $500.

Hi Jon:

Or even less. I bought my Konus/Synta 8 f/5 with drives and EQ4/CG5 mount for
579.00. Amazing.

What's it like?

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

Alan

I would like to see a mount like the
ones which used to come with Cave
reflectors, for a reasonable price.

The Parks Superior mount with 1.5" shafts
looks very similiar to the Cave mounts,
they want something like $2500 for it.

Around 1970, you could get a basic EQ
mount with 1" shafts & pedestal from
Edmund or Jaegers for around $50.
Basic meant no drives or slow motion
controls. The Edmund clock drive
went for about $50, but it had too
much periodic error for asrophotography.
I just checked the April 1970 issue
of Sky & Telescope to get these prices.

And remember Pacific Instruments? They
had a nice mount too for $89.50 -
with drive.

Also, take a look at this:

http://www.abengineering.com/graphicsraw/german8.jpg

The company is AB Engineering in Indiana.
However, there is no price listed, and
the web page is dated 1999. Anyone know
anything about this company?

"Ed" wrote in message
...
Also, take a look at this:

http://www.abengineering.com/graphicsraw/german8.jpg

The company is AB Engineering in Indiana.
However, there is no price listed, and
the web page is dated 1999. Anyone know
anything about this company?


I don't know anything about the above company but the picture of the mount
looks much like an old Edmound mount...same pedestal too. I bought one with
a 6" reflector new in 1966, which came complete with finder, 3 eyepieces,
barlow and clock drive. Price was $169...no taxes in those days. To put
that price in proper context, if you were earning $8,000/year, you were
living in "fat city."

Al