Unicorn PF Dish - Who Manufactured Them ?

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moonbase

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Hi,

Does anyone know who manufactured the Unicorn spun aluminium prime focus dishes?

The dish face has the characteristic spun aluminium pattern that you see on the Precision dishes and I wondered if Unicorn had them manufactured by Precision. The main difference between a Unicorn dish and a Precision dish is the mounting system on the back of the dish. The Unicorn does not have the circular tubular ring that is characteristic of Precision.

I have attached a couple of Unicorn pics below.
 

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scopus

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The firm was called 'Unicorn Satellite Systems' and was owned by Bill Bryant, now sadly passed away. They produced some very good quality gear. The dishes I believe were manufactured at a Rolls Royce factory and have no bolts on the dish front. The mounting plate was bonded to the back of the dish with resin. Very good dish, although I have never seen or used one.
They also made the beefed up 1224 called the Jumbo H to H motor.
SSS used to sell them. Bill and Dave were very good friends.
 
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In the picture MB posted, the back plate looks like it's attached using the same bolts that hold the feed arms to the dish.
 
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Captain Jack said:
In the picture MB posted, the back plate looks like it's attached using the same bolts that hold the feed arms to the dish.
Click to expand...

I think the arms went through to the back plate and were bolted to the back plate hold them.
But the actual circular plate was held to the dish with resin, unlike the Precision where the mounting ring was riveted to the dish front.
 
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scopus said:
I think the arms went through to the back plate and were bolted to the back plate hold them.
But the actual circular plate was held to the dish with resin, unlike the Precision where the mounting ring was riveted to the dish front.
Click to expand...


Scopus,

You are correct, the circular back plate is bonded to the dish and the feed support arms are held in place by bolts that pass through holes in the back plate.
It seems to be a good quality dish.

I will probably stick the dish and Jaeger 1224 motor in the forum classifieds or on eBay in a few days.
 
scopus

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moonbase said:
Scopus,

You are correct, the circular back plate is bonded to the dish and the feed support arms are held in place by bolts that pass through holes in the back plate.
It seems to be a good quality dish.

I will probably stick the dish and Jaeger 1224 motor in the forum classifieds or on eBay in a few days.
Click to expand...

I have only ever seen a 1.2 on E bay in the past, you are lucky to get hold of one. Can I ask wher you got if from MB?
 
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scopus said:
I have only ever seen a 1.2 on E bay in the past, you are lucky to get hold of one. Can I ask wher you got if from MB?
Click to expand...
Tempted now you are actually selling it!!
 
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scopus said:
Tempted now you are actually selling it!!
Click to expand...


Tempted by what, the Unicorn dish or the Jaeger 1224 motor ?
I got the dish from an installer who knew Dave at SSS quite well. Its probably one that SSS stocked at one time.
Its actually a 1.25m dish as measured by the diameter of the active reflector face. The total diameter is 1.28m with 1.25m of that being active reflector surface.

The project that it was being used for has ended and it is surplus to requirements. I have sold some decent dishes in the past after projects have ended as can be seen from my previous sales of a channel master 1.8m dish and a Precision 1.8m dish via this forum.

I will have a think about a price and probably list both the dish and the Jaeger 1224 motor in the classifieds or on eBay.
 
scopus

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moonbase said:
Tempted by what, the Unicorn dish or the Jaeger 1224 motor ?
I got the dish from an installer who knew Dave at SSS quite well. Its probably one that SSS stocked at one time.
Its actually a 1.25m dish as measured by the diameter of the active reflector face. The total diameter is 1.28m with 1.25m of that being active reflector surface.

The project that it was being used for has ended and it is surplus to requirements. I have sold some decent dishes in the past after projects have ended as can be seen from my previous sales of a channel master 1.8m dish and a Precision 1.8m dish via this forum.

I will have a think about a price and probably list both the dish and the Jaeger 1224 motor in the classifieds or on eBay.
Click to expand...

Both MB, but SWMBO no doubt will put the mockers on it.
 
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moonbase said:
Scopus,

You are correct, the circular back plate is bonded to the dish and the feed support arms are held in place by bolts that pass through holes in the back plate.
It seems to be a good quality dish.

I will probably stick the dish and Jaeger 1224 motor in the forum classifieds or on eBay in a few days.
Click to expand...
I would be interested in the 1224 at the right price
 
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