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More Amateur Telescopes |
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by Albert G. Ingalls |
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The one above left, made by Warren A. Donaldson, 3235 Gaylord Avenue, Pittsburgh, has a six inch-mirror. "When the polishing was complete," writes Mr. Donaldson, "I had the most unearthly figure imaginable." Much work reduced this to what a Pittsburgh professional telescope maker called "the best amateur job he had ever seen." The instrument has exceptional definition, and easily separates the double-double star in Lyra. The telescope above center made by William E. Mueller of Sutter, California, who says he commenced work all confident and expecting the job to be completed in a week or so. It took three months. The grinding consumed 12 hours, the polishing 25, and the figuring five. Eight laps were made. "Figuring was difficult, as per guarantee in 'Amateur Telescope Making,"' Mr. Mueller writes. "The cost was around 40 dollars. The rings of Saturn and any number of things seen. The effort was fully repaid" Next, above right is a job by Walter W. Gaulka, 4203 Waverly Avenue, Detroit, who writes: "I had occasion to compare my instrument with a Zeiss four-inch refractor. In definition mine was on a par with it. At 92 diameters Jupiter's bands are very distinct." This worker used a flat for a diagonal and mounted it adjustably on a rack and pinion. The mounting was extemporized largely from old Hupmobile parts. Below above left is a six-inch reflector by Taylor Bethel of Southold, New York, who says 'grinding and mounting a telescope mirror is the most intensely interesting work I have ever attempted. All work went smoothly until the silvering. I made three trials before I succeeded at that." Rupert H. Olson, 3629 25th Avenue, Minneapolis, whose telescope is shown next to the right, writes briefly: "I ground several four-inch glasses from the five-and ten store to get a little experience, so the eight-inch mirror was a small job to complete, by following the instructions in your book." Mr. Olson's method of preliminary practice is commended. That kind of approach to the job will pay in the long run. H. B. Donahay, of Blake, Moffitt and Towne, paper dealers, Portland, Oregon, sends in a snapshot of his six-inch, and says: "| cannot agree with those who say that making a reflector is tedious. I enjoyed every hour of the work from grinding the mirror to assembling the optical train." "The mirror proved to be a peach,"' says Oscar P. Knab, 309 South Monroe Avenue, Green Bay, Wisconsin. "It was made in the customary manner, and the usual pitfalls presented themselves. The results with this instrument, which cost me less than 13 dollars, are extremely gratifying. I am now engaged on a 14-inch reflector." M. C. Walden of the Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company, San Francisco, made his telescope partly by radio. That is to say whenever he ran into a fix or "picklement" in the work he communicated with the telescope editor by radio, through a third person in New York, got his answer the same day, and applied it to that evening's work. He says he is satisfied with the job -as a first attempt. But he does not get the definition he would like. Has this anything to do with San Francisco atmosphere, or was the telescope ed's radioed advice shaky? Science teachers find telescope making just the thing. E. E. Gale, instructor in "math" and physics in the Port Perry, Ontario, high school, assisted by his students, made the telescope shown. He appears to be enthusiastic about the work. His mounting is cast into a base which doubtless "stays put" pretty well-a big glacial boulder. This reminds us of the biblical wise man who built his house upon a rock. "And the rain came, and the wind blew and beat upon that house and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock." Is our quotation (from memory) correct? We can't find the original.
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The Society for Amateur Scientists (SAS) is a nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to helping people enrich their lives by following their passion to take part in scientific adventures of all kinds. The Society for Amateur Scientists At Surplus Shed, you'll find optical components such as lenses, prisms, mirrors, beamsplitters, achromats, optical flats, lens and mirror blanks, and unique optical pieces. In addition, there are borescopes, boresights, microscopes, telescopes, aerial cameras, filters, electronic test equipment, and other optical and electronic stuff. All available at a fraction of the original cost. SURPLUS
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