How much is a 12.5 F5 Discovery Truss Dob worth?

Started by BianchiAZ, 08/20/2016 01:34AM
Posted 08/20/2016 01:34AM | Edited 08/20/2016 02:26AM Opening Post
What is a fair price to offer for this scope? I have the option to buy a 12.5 Discovery Truss Dob for $1200.00 US Dollars but the guy said we can work on the price. The fellow selling the scope has had it for about 8 years he said and he purchased it at his astronomy club from another member he knew personally. He said the other guy owned it for quite a while but I have no exact time period. I dont know when they first started making this model or who made the mirrors.

This is the ad....
Discovery 12.5" f5 truss tube dobsonian telescope. Premium coded optics, 8x50 finder, 2" focus er with 1.25" adapter. Also included Orion Sky Wizard digital setting circles.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/5732637635.html

No eyepieces are in the sale and no collimator. The Mirror has never taken out of its cell. Owner says the views are very nice. That is all the info I have on it until I tread across town 30 miles to go look at it.

Thanks for looking people and any comments are appreciated.
I have Eyepieces and a laser collimator but looking to buy a new collimator also.

Posted 08/20/2016 04:19AM #1
Here is something similar that is newer and has lots more stuff with it. http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=924322 Value is always debatable. I would personally offer no more than half. For better or worse, older mid-sized dobs seem to sell cheap. Nearly all the worth is in the quality of the optics. And that can best be determined by using it. Many older commercial dobs are disappointing in that regard. Tom

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Posted 08/20/2016 12:43PM | Edited 08/20/2016 12:46PM #2
Richard Johnson said:

What is a fair price to offer for this scope? I have the option to buy a 12.5 Discovery Truss Dob for $1200.00 US Dollars but the guy said we can work on the price. The fellow selling the scope has had it for about 8 years he said and he purchased it at his astronomy club from another member he knew personally. He said the other guy owned it for quite a while but I have no exact time period. I dont know when they first started making this model or who made the mirrors.

This is the ad....
Discovery 12.5" f5 truss tube dobsonian telescope. Premium coded optics, 8x50 finder, 2" focus er with 1.25" adapter. Also included Orion Sky Wizard digital setting circles.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/5732637635.html

No eyepieces are in the sale and no collimator. The Mirror has never taken out of its cell. Owner says the views are very nice. That is all the info I have on it until I tread across town 30 miles to go look at it.

Thanks for looking people and any comments are appreciated.
I have Eyepieces and a laser collimator but looking to buy a new collimator also.


I would lean towards the Discovery myself.... Terry Ostahowski has a pretty decent reputation for good to great mirrors and that's very likely who made the primary and probably the 2ndary too. Particularly if he is willing to negotiate on the price. $1200 isn't terrible but I would offer him no more than a $1000 and see what happens. Given the age I would give the optics a close look and much prefer to work out a time to be able to test it on the sky.....

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12.5" f/5 MidnighTelescopes DOB Swayze optics
Monroe GA
Posted 08/25/2016 12:30AM #3
Thank you for the reply gents. I am going to set a time up to view with the owner. I'll make him an offer under 1000.00 if all goes well.