Hi Lynn, I'm not sure from what you say if you just want the unmounted optical tube assembly or a scope with a mount. But regardless, for $4000, you may not be in the price range of a 16" unit. The lowest priced 16" model I found in a quick look for a new one (mounted on the least fancy mount) is $16,000. So, getting one for a quarter of that seems extremely unlikely. A 16" unit is so large that I'm guessing many of the purchasers of something that big, heavy, and expensive, mount them permanently or semi-permanently. I've not actually seen anything of that size available used (that does not mean you might not find one, but I'd guess they are rare). If you're not planning to mount it at least semi-permanently and aren't of herculean strength, you might be interested to hear what the retired gentleman whose 16" Meade I looked through (at the Rocky Mountain Star Stare in Colorado this past summer), told me: he has uses an engine hoist with a mechanic's tripod to lift the scope onto the mount! These things are seriously heavy. He says it's really easy with the tripod and hoist (?!). Meade doesn't bother to list the weight of the tube and fork assembly on their web site--I guess if you have to ask, it's too heavy. One site lists it at 320 pounds (that probably includes the mount too). Just thinking about it, I wondered if you went for an RC Cass or a Corrected Dall-Kirkham, you might come up with something closer to your price range (no big corrector plate, so possibly less expensive to make the optics)--and definitely less weight with a truss-style "tube". But, based on some quick checks, you'd still be looking at a substantially smaller aperture to fit your budget. A 12.5" CDK (no mount--and you pay shipping or go pick it up in So. CA) sold last year on Cloudy Nights for $8,000. Just for curiousity's sake, I checked Cloudy Nights classifieds: nothing in the 16" range for Meade Schmit-Cass scopes; same on AstroMart; and also nothing on eBay. Just for comparison, on Cloudy Nights, there's a Meade 12" (with fork mount and equatorial wedge) for $4000 (not including shipping) that was sold about 11 months ago. A new (essentially unused according to the ad) Meade 12" on a Celestron German equatorial mount for $4,500. And, perhaps still available are a 14" and a 12" for $2,500 (posted back in the summer so likely already sold). Given the complete lack of any used listing for a model of that size, I have to think a 16" Meade would be a rare item to find second hand (and would almost certainly command a price in the range of three times your budget). If you were looking for something smaller, you might be able to get a floor/demo model at one of the big astro vendor's places, but I have to think that's never going to be available for a 16" (the places I checked list them as a special order item). If I were a scope vendor, I don't think I'd keep anything that expensive in inventory and I sure wouldn't let folks play with it if I did. But, if you haven't put a "Wanted" ad/notice on Cloudy Nights (www.cloudynights.com), that'd be a good place to begin. AstroMart (www.astromart.com) is also worthwhile although you have to pay some money to join there. Best of luck, and if you find one, be sure to let us know: I'd sure love to have a look through it! John On 1/3/2015 9:50 AM, Lynn Cooley wrote:
Hi my name is Lynn Cooley
I am looking to get my hands on a Meade 16" telescope in the LX sears. But I can not afford to pay over $4000.00 for it. As I am retired and on a fixed income. So I would appreciate any help that any one can give me.
Thank you very much.
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