Schaefer Mounts...

Could anyone shed me some light on Schaefer Equatorial Mounts? I have come accross users with pictures of it from time to time but have never seen one in the ads.. I guess they're not made anymore...or pretty expensive..I'm considering a 14" scope and do like the classic and robust look of those mounts...
Nico

Hi Nico,

They are no longer manufactured and a bit hard to come by. I noticed that Don Rothman has one for sale:


#SHAEFER 12" SUPER MASSIVE GERMAN EQ MOUNT,R/A/DEC AC DRIVES,HAS 1.75"
CHROME PLATED DEC SHAFT,25/50LB C/W'S,DUAL AXIS AC/DC DRIVE CORRECTOR,W/
HANDBOX,10" DIAM PIER,2FT HIGH,W/FOLD OUT STEEL LEGS,HOLDS 150LBS,-$4695

His website:

http://www201.pair.com/resource/astro.html/teletrade/list.htm

larry

Schaefer mounts were made by Bill Schaefer from the mid 1940s until the mid 1990s. Shortly before his death Bill sold the business to AstroTrak (sp?). I don't think they are in current production. There are some people in So. Cal. building similar mounts on a custom basis. Schaefer mounts are a close coupled GEM using Byers gears. They are very sturdy and can support quite heavy loads. A 12" mount of this general design can support OTAs of close to 200lb.