A 10" Rocker Box . . .

In the early stages, and getting underway is a
rocker box and altitude bearings for Tom's 10"
telescope. Note the unique tube rings.

Tom lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A Note From Kevin in St. Louis, Missouri . . .

Hello Dennis,

I'm FINALLY getting a photo to you of my scope with the box you made for me! After months of logistics, work, and weather, I was finally able to take it out for Jupiter's opposition last night. 

It works great. You've allowed me to use this telescope for the first time in almost 10 years! 
Thank you!

Kevin

A Blast from the Past . . .

A 12.5" F8 made in the 50's as seen on Cloudy Nights recently. It
reminded me of my own early telescope making efforts.

That's me in the early 80's with a 12.5" full-thickness pyrex mirror with
an F8 focal length. The OTA was welded electrical conduit made with
the help of a high school metal shop teacher. The mounting was made
from 4", 3" and 2.5" pipe fittings with babbit bearings.

(ala Making Your Own Telescope by Thompson)

Two 16's -- Two Rocker Boxes...

As I zero-in on completing two 16" strut-kits, the rocker box is one of the
 last components to put together. Here the sizes are tested for fit.

OK, I Can Find It Now...

Sam, in Beaver, Pennsylvania, needed an iPad stalk
and mount for his 16" Lightbridge. He reports
that it works great. That one of our custom
rocker boxes for the Lightbridge.

A 10" F3.9 Astrograph . . .

A very nice set of Orion 10" astrograph optics make this beauty a delight
to use for deep sky observing. That's a Kinoptics helical focuser.

Installed is a red-dot finder and 10K encoders for Sky Commander
or any digital setting circle system.

The standard 9-point Orion mirror cell and custom mirror cover. The rocker box
weighs 21# while the OTA, with mirror cover is 33#.

Two 16" Strut Telescope Kits Nearing Completion . . .

A 3-vane and 4-vane spider on the 16" strut telescopes for Bob and Ron.
Both of these spiders are heavy-duty "Observatory Grade" unit
from Destiny.

An example of the completed telescope.