What can you tell of an used PST from those pictures?

[minhlead]

Hi guys,
As I posted here ealier, I am looking for a PST etalon to use as a contrast booster for my Quark. And I ran across a guy online selling this PST. He does not seems to know much about the scope. He was nice enough to give me a few photos of the scope.
But I have never owned a PST before and I really do not know much about the Meade/pre-meade, blue/golden objective thingy.
So could you guys please look at those pictures and tell me what can I "read" from those. Any hope of know the manufacture date, conditions etc... of the scope from those picture?
Many thanks!

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[DeepSolar64]

With the golden objective and " Made in USA " logo I would guess that this is a pre-Meade or early Meade model. The currant Meade Instruments PST has a blue objective and lacks the USA logo, they are made in Mexico.

[marktownley]

The objective is rusted on it. Apart from that you can tell little.

Unless you're gambling cash I wouldn't get it unless there are pictures taken through it.

[DeepSolar64]

Rusted? I have learned something today. I never would have thought an objective coating would oxidize. I have refractors over 40 years old that still have good coatings. Pedro has some much older I bet! ;-)

It must have been soft-coated.

[solarchat]

As mentioned above, this is a very early model with the gold rusted objective. The blocking filter may or may not be rusted and the scope and case are very, very clean cosmetically.

[marktownley]

It must have been soft-coated.

Exactly right James!

[DeepSolar64]

It must have been soft-coated.

Exactly right James!

Mark,
We both have Coronados! Hopefully we don't eventually have objective rust problems!

James

[minhlead]

Thanks, Mark, James and Stephen!
Exactly what I was looking for. After my research, I also think the scope is really really old. (Serial number is 96xxx, some 95xxx scope are traced back to 2004 2005 or so). However, my concern is not using the whole scope but just the etalon for a mods. The etalon is not supposed to be degraded, correct?

[minhlead]

Also, the objective looks clean to me. How do you tell if it's rusted?

[Valery]

If you can't check out it, don't buy it and forget.


Valery

[EGRAY_OBSERVATORY]

Trying to see the images Minh, but you don't mention the price asked ??

Terry

[minhlead]

Trying to see the images Minh, but you don't mention the price asked ??

Terry

Thanks Valery,
I am trying to ask for a photo taken from the scope
Thanks Terry,
It's a bid and the current price is 300$ ish. Not sure how much I should bid if I decided to buy

[EGRAY_OBSERVATORY]

Assuming that is 300 U.S.Dollars Minh = £218.56 GBP.

Also depending on any postage charges + any import duties,
that would be about the absolute maximum for the scope itself due to age and 2nd-hand without seeing any guaranteed images from it.

With little or no warranty, buying through a website (other than from a manufacturer or long-standing/reputable supplier) will always carry the risk of buying a "dud". Not to mention any postal-damage, where some manufacturers etc., might deal with - in the event of.

If you can afford to lose whatever amount, then that could sway your decision...

Whatever that decision, I wish you the best..

Terry

[marktownley]

Also, the objective looks clean to me. How do you tell if it's rusted?

The colour of it = objectives need to be transparent to light, that one definitely isnt!

[marktownley]

We both have Coronados! Hopefully we don't eventually have objective rust problems!

Nope, they won't, totally different system used you will be pleased to hear

[DeepSolar64]

We both have Coronados! Hopefully we don't eventually have objective rust problems!

Nope, they won't, totally different system used you will be pleased to hear

Whew...