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Also consider that I bought a $20,000+ Questar Seven in 1999 and it had a
ding on the control box, flecks in the anodizing of the tube finish and a
considerable seam and adhesive showing on the tube skin! You're complaining
about $4K on a 14" Schmidt! I'll take the good optics anyday. Seems Meade
has the "fit and finish" department down pat. Their ads are slick and
impressive, their scopes look slick and impressive. But from what you are
telling me, there *is* a difference between the Meades and Celestrons under
the hood where it really counts!

Wayne E. Gondella
AFA Engineering Company
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wayne,

I appreciate the comments and agree the optics are what count in the
end. I don't know that I was complaining, just stating my personal
impression of the scope. In addition, had I bought a $20,000 scope
in the condition you are stating your Questar was delivered, I would
have been up in arms. Lastly, maybe you think $4k is nothing as you
can afford more (obviously), but to some of us that is a lot of
money. Would you buy a new car, or television with scratches all over
it, or that appreared to be painted over? Probably not. Just
because a scope has good optics doesn't mean a consumer should settle
for poor workmanship elsewhere.

Paul

--- In C14@y..., "W. Gondella" <gondella@s...> wrote:

Also consider that I bought a $20,000+ Questar Seven in 1999 and it

had a

ding on the control box, flecks in the anodizing of the tube finish

and a

considerable seam and adhesive showing on the tube skin! You're

complaining

about $4K on a 14" Schmidt! I'll take the good optics anyday.

Seems Meade

has the "fit and finish" department down pat. Their ads are slick

and

impressive, their scopes look slick and impressive. But from what

you are

telling me, there *is* a difference between the Meades and

Celestrons under

the hood where it really counts!

Wayne E. Gondella
AFA Engineering Company
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

----- Original Message -----
From: "W. Gondella" <gondella@s...>
To: <C14@y...>
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 12:54 AM
Subject: Re: [C14] First Impressions of my new C14

The black tube does look better than the newer charcoal gray.

However the

gray looks killer on the C9.25. Anyone with reasonable

mechanical skill

can

take the C14 apart (after warranty?) and paint the tube any color

they

want.

The tube is aluminum. The marks you saw on the rear casting are

atypical

I

believe, and you should not lump all C14s as having poor

cosmetics for

that

issue. I have no such marks on mine.

Wayne E. Gondella

Hi Paul, I understand how you feel about a cash outlay such as this, and then can find minor defects with cosmetics. I myself am an extremely fussy bugger too. Typically, I could spot a mosquito 100ft away on your C-14! :-)

What makes the purchase hard, is that people mostly buy these things sight unseen, and it's like "Take it, or leave it". We all prefer the item that has no issues, period.

I believe the newer C-14 OTAs have two handles on the Rear Cell, correct? How do you like these? Do they feel solid, ans well attached? Or do you think this is something that these may just come loose down the road? Mark