Novak GEM
In the 1960s, Al Novak was well known in the astronomy circles around Chicago.
Adler Planetarium used to hold an evening mirror making class for wannabe astronomers; I wanted to attend, but never did... and Al used to weld up these German Equatorial Mounts for the owners of the newly finished telescopes.
They were made with or without legs, and had either 1" or 1.5" axis shafts (this is a 1.5"). They're made out of steel pipe and steel plate.
HEAVY... RIGID... just what was needed for a good mounting according to conventional wisdom of the day.
I don't know if the Right Ascension and Declination motor drives, used to automatically track celestial objects as they crossed the sky, were standard or an option; considering the cost of these items, both now and then, I'd guess that they were probably optional.
It appears that Novak used either Beyer or Optic Craft drive machanisms interchangably; this one is an Optic Craft. Beyer drives are LEGENDARY for their accuracy and quality.
The OTA (Optical Tube Assembly, ie, the telescope itself) was originally secured with straps. This particular mount has been drilled to accept tube rings too. I've recently obtained suitable rings that fit the irrigation pipe tube.
The axis bearings appear to be sleeve bearings, rather than roller or ball bearings. The sleeves in this Old Timer are quite good; no play that I can detect, and they're silky smooth in movement, even tho they clearly haven't been cleaned or relubricated in decades.
Incidentally... there are a LOT of photos of the GEM and drives here, and there's a reason.
The GEM is being completely torn apart. It will be completely cleaned of dirt and corrosion & rust, stripped of paint, reprimed & repainted (Rustoleum Green Hammertone), lubricated and reassembled.
These photos are a reference to assist me in putting it all back together the same way.
Novak GEM
In the 1960s, Al Novak was well known in the astronomy circles around Chicago.
Adler Planetarium used to hold an evening mirror making class for wannabe astronomers; I wanted to attend, but never did... and Al used to weld up these German Equatorial Mounts for the owners of the newly finished telescopes.
They were made with or without legs, and had either 1" or 1.5" axis shafts (this is a 1.5"). They're made out of steel pipe and steel plate.
HEAVY... RIGID... just what was needed for a good mounting according to conventional wisdom of the day.
I don't know if the Right Ascension and Declination motor drives, used to automatically track celestial objects as they crossed the sky, were standard or an option; considering the cost of these items, both now and then, I'd guess that they were probably optional.
It appears that Novak used either Beyer or Optic Craft drive machanisms interchangably; this one is an Optic Craft. Beyer drives are LEGENDARY for their accuracy and quality.
The OTA (Optical Tube Assembly, ie, the telescope itself) was originally secured with straps. This particular mount has been drilled to accept tube rings too. I've recently obtained suitable rings that fit the irrigation pipe tube.
The axis bearings appear to be sleeve bearings, rather than roller or ball bearings. The sleeves in this Old Timer are quite good; no play that I can detect, and they're silky smooth in movement, even tho they clearly haven't been cleaned or relubricated in decades.
Incidentally... there are a LOT of photos of the GEM and drives here, and there's a reason.
The GEM is being completely torn apart. It will be completely cleaned of dirt and corrosion & rust, stripped of paint, reprimed & repainted (Rustoleum Green Hammertone), lubricated and reassembled.
These photos are a reference to assist me in putting it all back together the same way.