I'm doing research for a book, forthcoming from Cambridge University Press, and hope someone can help with a pretty specific question. I have a copy of the 1994 edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Dickinson and Dyer. In it, they state that the current (1994) price for the Celestron C80, on an alt-az mount, was $550. A paragraph or two later, they mention the Firstscope 80 EQ, but do not mention the price. I own a Firstscope 80 EQ, which I bought several years ago for well under $300 (I don't remember the exact price.)
I'd like to know what the price was for this scope back then. I know that mine was probably made in China, and back then they might have been made in Japan(information on that would be nice, too); so it might not be an accurate comparison (though my scope gives very nice views.) Still, I think prices have fallen considerably in the last decade or so, and I'd like to give a specific example, using a long-available beginner's scope, if I can.
If someone knows the answer, that would be great. Or, if someone has been subscribing to Sky & Telescope longer than I have (2001), or another magazine, maybe he or she could look at some ads. I'd be grateful for any help!
Paul Kinzer
I'd like to know what the price was for this scope back then. I know that mine was probably made in China, and back then they might have been made in Japan(information on that would be nice, too); so it might not be an accurate comparison (though my scope gives very nice views.) Still, I think prices have fallen considerably in the last decade or so, and I'd like to give a specific example, using a long-available beginner's scope, if I can.
If someone knows the answer, that would be great. Or, if someone has been subscribing to Sky & Telescope longer than I have (2001), or another magazine, maybe he or she could look at some ads. I'd be grateful for any help!
Paul Kinzer
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