The equatorial mount was fabricated from aluminum tubing, welded together at 90 degress with bearings press fitted at all ends. The polar axis and declination shafts are 1.5 inch machined steel.

 

Knobs and a threaded dec. locking device are all machined brass. Stainless steel counter weights were bored to fit the axis and the combination makes a very impressive and equatorial mount.  A cradle to support the tube was made of solid oak, and lined with felt. An oversized tapered brass flange attaches the oak cradle to the dec shaft, after discovering that an aluminum flange proved unrelieable. Stainless steel straps hold the telescope tube to the cradle and  tube rotation is possible. You can then reposition the eyepiece if the observer wishes to simply by loosening the straps and pull tube assembly to a new position. I did much of the machining myself, but the welding was done professionally.

 

The equatorial mount has an aluminum plate that is sandwiched between two other plates to adjust the observers latitude. This  entire unit rests on an Edmund Scientific Co cast iron pedistal base with 3 legs. A post cap made of steel was obtained and was taken to a shop in the southside and was chromed for $ 5.00! The cap mates the mount to the pedistal, by threads.

 

Wow, all of this became a telescope!! Final result is a very STABLE telecope that can be quickly broken down  to be trasported by a mid sized car!

 

The 2.4 inch guide scope was added to the ota in 1972, and is from University Optics.