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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:36:22 GMT -7
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:38:15 GMT -7
Posted by: Richard B. Drumm Jan 11 2007, 07:30 PM Huh! Good catch, Steve! Thanks! Whatta ya make of it, Ron, Gare? The description on the website doesn't shed much light on it, either... Rich imageshack.us
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:38:33 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Jan 12 2007, 02:36 PM Yea, I saw that in the last issue of Edmond Scientific catalog. All they say is that you have to see it to believe it (and I can look at that two ways). imageshack.usI always have questions when I read things like this. Nothing at all about a "real" night sky, just "an amazing light show that you will never forget". Buyer beware! :shock:
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:38:50 GMT -7
Posted by: mrgare5050 Jan 13 2007, 06:59 AM i could take you through my home planetarium storage shed, where 3 'laser shows', 3 disco revolving colour wheels, and 8 strobes lay on the dusty shelf, cuz they STOPPPED WORKING one day and nobody knew how to fix them!
if i keep writing checks for this now neverending stuff, i'll never stay true to my main mission! i've resolved more to be a collector of stories, emotions, history, words, articles, songs, lectures etc than toy projectors.
i do still have a fog machine though smile.gif gare o the hpa
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:39:11 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Jan 14 2007, 11:28 AM Ya Gare, I hear you. If I had 10 cents on the dollar for all the junk and equipment that I've purchased over the years that either quit working or is no longer viable, I'd retire.
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:39:35 GMT -7
Posted by: Launch Vehicle Jan 15 2007, 09:09 AM There are multiple sites for this product, most using the generic name "Star Showers". Very little technical information other than base specs: the lenses are made of glass and the unit weighs a hefty 9 pounds. If powered by a real green laser, projected stars might be intense. Linda @ Edmund Scientific claims that this product has created quite a buzz from their Buyers, and that it projects a real sky. All these new products out there---is this insular Sport potentially bigger than any of us ever imagined?
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:39:59 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Jan 15 2007, 12:02 PM I think the percentage of the "common people" out there that have at least a passing interest in astronomy would be in the 80 to 90%. There is a magic to it. Remember how well the original Spitz Jr. sold.
With the price of electronics always dropping it is interesting to see how many star projectors are being produced. Someone must be buying and that's a good thing. I just hope they all don't wind up in a closet somewhere.
I often wonder why I can't be happy with one of these little wonders if they do the sky well. I guess that's like asking why others on this site can't be happy with a 70mm Tasco, or why a car buff can't be happy with a Toyota. After all, they all "do the job".
For some reason I am enamored with technology that is 1/2 century old. Perhaps this is because I am over 1/2 century old. I also like tube amps better then the new solid state ones, reel to reel tape recorders over computer DAW's, film over video. I like them all better not because I come from the same era, but because I perceive them as being better and I like to work with better things. (As long as the money holds out [there is a limit to everything]).
I would consider myself a nut case.....(NO, I'm over that 1/2 century mark so I am now eccentric not nuts) if it weren't for the fact that I have a lot of company out there that believes as I do.
How in the heck did I get on this soap box? Just an eccentric, I guess.
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:40:25 GMT -7
Posted by: Launch Vehicle Jan 16 2007, 01:06 PM Maybe it's just that many of us are suckers for anything "classical". A weight-driven Unitron refractor may be much fussier to operate than today's typical GOTO scope (then again, maybe not), however a Unitron's governor mechanism is much more fascinating to watch. Remember the old Bulova Accutron watch with its exposed gearing and tuning fork hummm?, -or the Spilhaus Space clock? Their modern equivalents-if there are any-don't merit a second look. They have no soul, and will be quickly forgotten by everybody, including today's technophiles...there's no school like the old school!
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:40:52 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Jan 16 2007, 04:01 PM Ah...the Accutron. I remember a friends father had one and I was most fascinated with the fact that the sweep second hand didn't "tick" along, but moved continuously like that of an electric clock. Then from the "why in the h**l did I save this c**p" department (God, I save everything) comes: imageshack.usThat's $295 in 1974 dollars, probably three grand today. But what a clock. See the great stuff you young guys missed! But not to be outdone, Bob hit the nail on the head with the clockwork Unitron. We all drooled over their telescopes. And from my collection of "this will never see the light of day again"; imageshack.usWhat a fantastic clock drive with weights for power. And it worked extremely well as many folks did astrophotos with it.
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:41:13 GMT -7
Posted by: Launch Vehicle Jan 18 2007, 03:19 PM If you're looking for something a little more tradional than a laser to trace out constellations in your planetarium, John French shows how to recapture some of that old "Star Theater" magic with a home-made Arrow pointer at www.pa.msu.edu/people/frenchj/pointerglpa2005/
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:41:30 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Jan 18 2007, 05:46 PM That's a good idea Bob. I must admit that I was just going to use a $2.95 red dot laser, but I guess the good old "green arrow" pointer like the old Zeiss arrow is a must.
I've heard that kodalith film is no longer available (which is very sad) but that overhead projector film for ink jet printers works very well. I'm sure it doesn't wear as well but as long as the black is good black it should work for this and constellation projectors as well.
Worth the experiment.
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:42:00 GMT -7
Posted by: mrgare5050 Jan 21 2007, 02:04 PM i'm in the arrow pointer crowd also, bright little red dots give me motion sickness!
for wonderful vintage stuff try zeisshistorica.org.
i'd buy zeiss NAMEPLATES if they sold them and stick them on other things!
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:42:27 GMT -7
Posted by: mrgare5050 Nov 6 2009, 07:20 PM QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Jan 21 2007, 09:04 PM) * i'm in the arrow pointer crowd also, bright little red dots give me motion sickness! for wonderful vintage stuff try zeisshistorica.org. i'd buy zeiss NAMEPLATES if they sold them and stick them on other things! gare
still dont have a zeiss nameplate from ANYTHING! sigh
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:42:50 GMT -7
Posted by: Owen Phairis Nov 7 2009, 08:59 AM QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Nov 6 2009, 06:20 PM) * still dont have a zeiss nameplate from ANYTHING! sigh
Sir Gare-Ace,
I am always trying to help... Perhaps you could buy some Zeiss postage stamps and apply them liberally to all you own? Be careful not to drop them in the mail.....
"O"
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Post by Ron Walker on Jun 13, 2022 13:43:14 GMT -7
Posted by: mrgare5050 Nov 7 2009, 09:27 AM QUOTE(Owen Phairis @ Nov 7 2009, 03:59 PM) * Sir Gare-Ace,
I am always trying to help... Perhaps you could buy some Zeiss postage stamps and apply them liberally to all you own? Be careful not to drop them in the mail.....
"O"
whered these come from O?? Maybe I could also just print this out, enlarge that logo, and make my own!
gare-zeiss
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