GEMINI GI-1 UBER MOUNT

I ordered a custom GEM from John Davis.  It will hold 60 lbs and will have a full Autostar goto installed.  He has a Gemini Scope Mounts group on Yahoo if you want more info.  Yup, that's a 10" SCT with an 8" Newtonian reflector OTA piggybacked on top.

 

Update 7 Nov 2003:  John is almost complete with his first mount.  I am #3 on the list.  It certainly has taken longer than we had expected, but that is the customer's fault more than it is John's.  We have asked for certain items to be added as we went through the design process with John.  This has been a unique astronomy purchase and one that I will never forget and always remember fondly.  I feel like I am a part of John's company.

 

So, what's it looking like these days?  Here are some photos:

 

It is shown mounted on a very nice custom tripod made by Russ Jolly.  He can make tripods for most any mount and they are sweet.  He charges around $130 for a set like this.  They are unmatched in quality and price.  A perfect mate for the GI-1.

I just got these pictures in of the GI-1 on my portable pier:

The pier weighs about 30 lbs.  The legs are removable with knobs (no tools!).  John hasn't come up with a capacity with the GI-1 sitting on this beast, but I'll bet it's well above 50 lbs.  I do 90% of my observing from my driveway and cul-de-sac and need to move around a lot to see around trees.  I have my XT10 on the wheeled cart that allows me to move easily.  This pier will afford the same mobility.  The biggest problem will be deciding which one to roll out.  The XT10 with it's EQ platform or the Burgess 5 inch refractor.  Tough choice.

I thought some folks might be interested in the specs and costs for the mount so far.

Specs:

Capacity - 50 lbs (conservative)

Weight - Approx 30 lbs

Shafts - 1.25"

One tapered roller bearing and one radial ball bearing per shaft

RA and Dec gears - 4.5"

PE estimated at less than 10 arcseconds

 

I'm not sure what the current prices are for the mounts, but I have about $1400 sunk into this right now.  I started out at $800 for the mount, 1 20 lbs stainless steel counterweight, heavy duty portable pier and full Autostar goto system installed.  Since then I have added things that for some strange reason, cost more money.  I've added an Astro Physics polar scope (why I didn't get a cheaper one I'll never know), an accessory tray for the pier, another 20 lbs stainless steel counterweight, setting circles, fancy covers for the Meade DS motors, a couple of dovetail plates and a fancy anodizing job.  That all adds up quick, but none of it was required.  John has been more than understanding about all the extra stuff we have added to the mount. 

 

I would compare the quality and capacity of this mount and pier with a Losmandy G11 which retails for $2,079 with dual axis drives and $3,195 with a Gemini goto system.  I will not contend that an Autostar goto is as good as a Gemini goto, but at less than half the price I ain't complaining.  I am not much interested in goto that much, I just added it because I could. 

 

John is going to be testing the first GI-1 soon with his CCD outfit to determine how well it does with respect to periodic error and such.

 

INFO FOR BUYING MY GI-1

 

All of the above info was posted before I had any intention of selling this mount.  It is not a sales pitch.  It was written as my honest assessment of the mount as we were building it.  The reason I am selling is because I decided to buy a Starmaster 11" EL Zambuto truss dob.  I originally ordered this mount in July for my Burgess 1278 refractor.  I have received the Burgess and since sold it.  I was going to keep the Gemini GI-1 and use my XT10 OTA on it to see what it could do.  But then the deal of the century came up on Astromart for the Starmaster.  So I decided to get the Starmaster.

 

This is a package deal.  I cannot parse it out as it will all be shipped from John Davis to you.  For the lucky buyer, you and I will need to contact John and work out details such as anodizing color, pier finish and shipping.  The mount will be going to the anodizers in early Dec.  It should be ready to ship to you befor Xmas. 

 

You will not find a more enthusiastic craftsman than John.  It breaks my heart to have to sell the GI-1, but the Starmaster was too good to pass up.

 

Please read through the archives of the Gemini Yahoo group and see what a great company John has going and what all the latest news is.  This is one great mount for a very reasonable price. 

 

For photographers, this mount, with the Autostar/DS motors, is good for short exposure work (< 2 minutes).  The reason is not the mount, but the Autostar drive/goto system.  The Autostar has no provision for autoguiding or PEC, so that is what limits this mounts capabilities.  For photographers, John has a few mods he adds such as a 5" RA gear and a precision drive system with PEC and autoguiding.  That is not part of my mount as I am a visual observer.

 

For those of you interested in purchasing this mount, here is the info:

 

Mount - $350

2 x Stainless Steel 18# counterweights - $50 each

6" Heavy Duty Pier (24") with pier extension (32") - $350

Motor housings - $50

Anodizing (choice of color) - $120

Setting Circles - $120

Accessory tray for pier - $50

2 x custom dovetails and saddle - $20

Polar finder bracket - $50

Astro Physics illuminated Polar Finder - $150

Autostar 497 w/ 4 DS motors - $150

Custom Aluminum Star knobs - $10

Shipping - TBD

 

Total cost of mount - $1,520 + shipping.  This could go up, but not by much.  I have paid $1,260 of this total to John already.  If you want the mount, you would need to pay me $1,260 and the balance to John Davis, Gemini Instruments, at his request.

 

Thanks for looking and even if you aren't buying my mount, please give consideration to a GI-1 in the future.  I have a feeling I will own one of these again in the future.