Criterion telescope Dynascope reflector equatorial RV6 primary mirror cell 1967

Description

This auction is for a 1967 Criterion (USA) Dynascope RV6 primary mirror cell. This will come with all the original cell hardware for holding the mirror firmly within the cell as well as the original hardware for holding and adjusting collimation of the primary mirror. You will need to find your own hardware for fastening the mirror cell to the telescope tube of your choice; which is very easy to do.
For a fun fact, though I used mpn "RV6" if we traveled back in time to a Criterion catalog, the mpn would be "A" followed by the size of the mirrors it would hold. So this, in truth, is part no. A6.
Model:  Real Value 6 primary mirror cell
Design:  3-point spring loaded collimation
Designed to fit:  any tube with inner diameter between 7.00-inches to 7.20-inches with 0.13-inch thick wall
Will hold:  any 6-inch primary mirror by a major manufacturer in any country
Thickness size:  will hold a mirror with 0.46-inches to 1.01-inches thickness
Adjustable mirror claws:  yes
Felt protected claws:  yes
Bolt pattern:  (3) screws equidistant 7.03-inch gap on the curve
Outer diameter of outer ring:  7.00-inches
Materials:  aluminum, brass, steel
Weight:  8.8 ounces
This mirror cell is stock to ALL YEARS RV6 reflectors; the cell design never changed. Originally these aluminum cells were designed to work with reflector cardboard sonatubes, sonatubes formed with fiberglass resin and/or hybrid cardboard sonatubes with an outer plastic coating. They can work with steel and tin reflector tubes, but additional care will need to be made when fastening the cell to the actual telescope tube so you do not dent the metal. This is easy to do by adding additional steel and nylon washers.
The only hardware not included with this cell are the (3) bolts, (3) nuts, and (3) acorn nuts for mounting the cell to the telescope tube. This can all be done at your local hardware store for minimal cost. The cell can be used in a tube larger than the above measurements given; simply choose longer-running bolts for suspending the cell in a larger tube.
The measurements I gave for the tube design are for reference when/if planning to put this cell in a branded, manufactured reflector tube. Because the size and format of this cell is a standard design of the mass-produced 6-inch reflector, it is highly universal even in today's models coming from China and Taiwan.
Also universal is the size. Because the claws are adjustable, this cell will virtually hold ANY THICKNESS 6-inch primary mirror from a major manufacturer over the last 60 years. Whether coming from the USA, China, Japan, Taiwan, or Russia (also former USSR), if it is a 6-inch mirror, it will work in this Criterion cell.
The only exception I can think of is the unusual mirrors used in the Celestron StarHopper 6. Those mirrors (also in the 8-inch model) are bowl-shaped on their underside and because of this design, they are fit to very specific mirror cells. I would advise you DO NOT place a Celestron StarHopper 6 mirror in this cell as it would be nearly impossible to keep it collimated, but aside from that model, you should be fine to use ANY mirror made by other companies/brands.
Criterions reflectors, their accessories and their mounts were all made of outstanding quality backed by a near flawless quality control ethic, and to this day their parts exist in excellence with the backyard astronomer's needs. This cell will hold collimation firmly even under due stresses like jarring, bumping, and prolonged horizontal angles.
Packed with great care.