Getting the Best Out of Your Mount

by Bill Brady

"The TAL GEMs are built in Novosibirsk Russia. The design is based on tried and true mounts of the 1950's and 1960's. All structural and drive components are metal, using tapered (stepped) steel shafts in both Right Ascension and Declination axes. The RA shaft is suspended in two ball bearings, the end taking the largest load being larger than the opposite end. The 4" mount has ball bearings in Declination, the smaller 3" mount uses sleeve bearings. All bearings are pre-loaded or constrained by compression nuts or other suspension components, which can be adjusted for, wear. The bearings are adjusted for zero play or runout of the shaft. Most mounts include a synchronous motor coupled to the RA shaft via a motor clutch, gear train, worm, worm (ring) gear and RA clutch. The worm gear provides the clutch bearing surface for the RA shaft and clutch plate. Thus there are two clutches in the RA drive where other mounts have one or none. To get the best service from these GEMs you must learn to make basic adjustments and take the time to do so. Given reasonable care these mounts will last for your lifetime and that of your children." [In detail at the TAL Scopes >>>]

TAL-200K

Cloudy Nights telescope review page

"At last I have a telescope that sees better than I do. This instrument is a carefully designed and built Cassegrain with a big difference, its tube is open at the top like a Newtonian. The Klevzov optical train uses a meniscus like a Maksutov but there the familiar ends. This design offers a few disadvantages and many advantages over all other scope designs..." [In detail >>>]
 

TAL-2

Review from "The Little Science Corner"

"The telescope surely has impressive specifications. It features an excellent 150mm primary mirror, multicoated eypieces and a comfortable finderscope. The mechanical construction is very robust. The optical performance is very satisfying without costing you an arm and a leg..." [In detail >>>]

TAL-2

Review from site "Excelsis"

"Really a great deal. I purchased thru the American re-seller, Sovietski Collection. While, it's a bear to set up and break down, it's very well made, rock solid mount, great finder and it produces extraordinary visual images for the price. I do use the scope w. premium ep's though. Motor tracks really well..." [In detail >>>]

TAL-2

"Sky & Telescope" test report

"Rebirth of a classic. 6-inch f/8 Newtonian features solid performance at an attractive price. The all-metal telescope and mounting is well designed and equally well made. They should withstand years of heavy use." [In detail >>>]

TAL-2

The Telescope Review Web Site by Ed Ting

"I enjoyed my time with this telescope. Although it's only 11 lbs heavier than the Meade Starfinder, it feels far more substantial and solid. The Meade, in fact, feels positively dainty next to this Sovietski, with its plastic focuser and finder, paper tube, etc..." [In detail >>>]

TAL-2

Cloudy Nights telescope review page

"This is an extremely satisfying scope to own and use and the mount by itself is worth twice the price of the TAL-2. I can recommend this scope to anyone who wants old-fashioned quality regardless of price... This is also the best "starter" scope I have ever seen..." [In detail >>>]

TAL-100R

Review from site "Excelsis"

"What a wonderful instrument!! Everything seems over engineered. The wooden tripod is solid as a rock and what you would expect surveyors to use. The German head has decent slow motions in both axis but manual only. The tube is all white with black dew cap and focuser - no plastic here!! The diagonal uses an aluminized flat rather than the usual prism - I read somewhere that this is a better option than the usual prism? A nice 6 by 30 mm, 6 point mounted finder is present. 2 eyepieces are supplied, both plossl's and of high quality - the 25mm has a very wide field. Interestingly the 10mm seems uncoated. The objective appears flawless and is a beautiful purple in color, I believe multicoated. Accessories include a camera adapter, Filters, reticule, tools etc..." [In detail >>>]

TAL-M

Joachim's TeleVue Pronto Site

"This was a beginner's telescope "made in Russia" at the "Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant". I bought it after a rave report in the German magazine "Sterne & Weltraum". Besides, you can see the cover of its service manual (serial number 0402). It was visually a fine product at a very low price..." [In detail >>>]

TAL-M

Cloudy Nights telescope review page

"This is indeed, the little telescope that can!" [In detail >>>]