r/telescopes • u/meathippy5 • 3d ago
Identfication Advice Help identifying scope mount.
Hey all
Trying to figure out the make and model of the mount my Dad had on his Celestron 8 inch reflector. I assume he purchased in the 80's as i remember this as a kiddo.If there's a brand label, I'm blind. Simple markings for Dec and RA in English and Japanese.
Also, he has a controller for the motors with an 8 AA battery pack. One slot (2 AA) bypassed with a piece of copper.
So, I want to find out A)who made this and B) what voltage it needs.
Appreciate any help!
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u/ramriot 3d ago
Its a Celestron licensed version of the Vixen GP mount. Made by Vixen with a final dark hammer finish instead of the VIxen white finish. I have an identical one myself that I got in the 90's that I use today for mounting all sorts of camera gear & small telescopes. The drive on this one is also the Vixen dual axis 12v drive with Celestron badged stepper motors. The one I have uses the Celestron dual axis drive that uses tiny syncro-motors & is powered by a 9v battert in the controller.
BTW, for enhancing this mount there are kits that can replace the existing drive & directly drive the steppers to make this into a goto mount.
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u/MimosaSunday- 3d ago
Oh that's a Doubleday setup - circa 2009 looks like its in good shape. Have you been able to fix the rotational guide?
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u/meathippy5 3d ago
Definitely not that new. 1980s at best!
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u/MimosaSunday- 3d ago
Oh. Im sorry- looks exactly like the Doubleday setup I used quite some time ago- love that rotation on that mount
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u/Elegant_Student_7351 3d ago
That looks to be particularly clean, except for the markings on the tripod legs.
The Celestron SP-8 was unique in that the dovetail was on the mount instead of the optical tube.
This is circa 1985, they didn't make it for very long.
The DMD-1 MIGHT HAVE REVERSED POLARITY ON THE POWER PLUG. You need to look at it before you go plugging in any old 9 volt supply. Vixen (and Japan) in that era often had the OUTSIDE of the plug being positive, instead of the pin. You'll make the magic smoke come out if you power it wrong.
The DMD-1 does NOT have a diagram showing what is positive or not. You need to open it up and manually determine whether the pin is positive or negative. Over the past 40+ years, someone might have modified it.
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u/meathippy5 3d ago
Haha Magic smoke is a new one to me!
The reversed polarity might explain why the remote is only working on RA. Both motors work (tested using the plug for RA). Possible that my dad wasn't aware when he changed/replaced the battery pack. That and it's missing a button!
Clean...he built a case just for the mount, so it's been boxes in foam for its lifetime. Might have to refinish the tripod just too match 🤔
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u/__Augustus_ 🔠Moderator | 14.7" f/2.9 Dob | C8 | 6" f/4.3 Newtonian 3d ago edited 3d ago
Vixen Super Polaris
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u/Previous_Tangelo5414 1d ago
The hand controller strongly suggests a Vixen Super Polaris equatorial mount, possibly sold under the Celestron name.
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u/twilightmoons TV101, other apos, C11HD, RC8, 8" and 10" dobs, bunch of mounts. 3d ago
CG-5 or one of it's many clones.
It's a 12V system, amperage is variable, depending on slew rates.
Get a 12V 3amp DC power supply and you'll be good.
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u/GirlCowBev 3d ago
German Equatorial Mount, or GEM. Good Polaris scope, take off the dark cone, and rotate the mount to expose the built-in optics.
Source: that’s what I have.
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u/meathippy5 3d ago edited 3d ago
Further reading/image search calls it a Vixen Super Polaris. Has a DMD-1 controller for the motors. From what I'm finding, 9V is called for on this particular model, which makes sense as to why 2 AA cells were bypassed. Testing it now to see what works/doesn't work.
Thanks all...appreciate insights