THREE more telescopes, and good ones at that, are described this month by their makers. Master-Sergeant T. J. Stephens of the Coast Artillery School Detachment at Fort Monroe, Virginia, writes: 'lmmediately after receipt of a copy of 'Amateur Telescope Making,' I developed a severe case of telescopeomania. I have completed two telescopes. Contrary to instructions, my first attempt was an 8-inch, which, after about three months of doubt, hesitancy, and many uncomplimentary remarks anent the characteristics of pitch, was finally completed, everything coming out just about as predicted by 'Amateur Telescope Making.'

"At that time I thought I was cured. But about nine months later the fever came on again. I tackled a 12-inch, hoping surely this would effect a permanent cure-but not so. Already the old familiar symptoms are showing up again and my case appears a hopeless one.

"With reference to the Ford parts mounting, in my opinion it is entirely too light for a telescope of this size. It works smoothie enough and, when there is no wind, is passably rigid, but not much of a breeze is needed to set the stars waltzing. The mounting, evidently, was considerably weakened by turning off the flange and the elimination of the brake parts, to allow for the slow-motion arrangement. Even with these parts retained, it is believed, it would not be sufficiently rigid to warrant recommending its use for a telescope of this size and weight-about 175 pounds supported by the polar axis."

If Sergeant Stephens' mounting is unsteady, its base ought not to be. This appears to be an old gun position at the fort, as shown in the photograph.

PAUL A. CHANIBERLAIN, 264 Falls Boulevard, North Tonawanda, NewYork, has combined the open tube and closed tube to neat advantage in an 8-inch telescope. Read what he says:

"For a mounting I found 3-inch pipe and fittings do very well. The grinding, polishing, figuring, and silvering went along just as mentioned in the book.

"I finished the telescope so quickly that I was disappointed-three months work at night. The work was very interesting. The optical performance of the telescope is most gratifying; the double-double system of Epsilon Lyrae is clear and discernible with the l/4-inch eyepiece.

"One picture shows the worms and gears for adjusting in right ascension and declination. The bearings on the pipe thread have been machined to a very close fit, for uniform and smooth action. This picture also gives an idea of how the eyepiece and small prism are mounted. The mounting is the Springfield type.

"The telescope is detachable from the stand which is fastened to the walk."

A NEAT 10-inch reflector is described by its maker, N. E. Bucklin, 2700 Catherine Street, Dallas, Texas, who says he is making another. "I was at it three or four years before 'Amateur Telescope Making'was published, but I never did get to first base until I had that book. Information certainly was hard to get.

"The telescope is now used as a Newtonian, with eyepiece at the upper end of the tube, not shown in the pictures. The eyepiece jacket at the lower end of the tube is for a future Cassegrainian set-up, there being an extra diagonal mirror support just above the main mirror, and the hyperboloidal convex mirror is to be placed in the Newtonian holder at the upper end of the tube, without altering its location.

"The main mirror is of 10-inch aperture, 77 inch focal length, and was parabolized to approximately three-fourths full correction. The definition exceeded hopes, standing the theoretical limit of magnification very well. Each increase in power produces new detail, with lunar and Jovian markings sharp and distinct with the 246 times magnification of a 5/16-inch eyepiece. Star images are round and sharp over a wide angular field, and the out-of-focus image gives two faint diffraction rings.

"The mirror holder consists of auto brake drums and 10-gage plates, arranged so that the mirror is held firmly without strain or flexure on a bed of low density cork, with felt-covered sponge rubber around the retaining rim. The mirror can be rotated, moved sideways, leveled with respect to the holder, and the holder plate can be leveled with respect to the tube ring. The wide notches 180 degrees apart on the tube ring are to permit the mirror in its cellto pass through the tube ring on edge. Once inside, it is turned flat and rests on the leveling studs on the ring.

"The gear on the declination bearing is a 12-pitch, 120-tooth spur gear, with the spokes cut out and the ring of teeth fitted to the casting. It is operated by a worm.

"The motion in right ascension is on a 60-tooth gear and single thread worm-fast enough for preliminary setting and slow enough for following. The shaft carrying the gear is 'free wheeling,' it being intended to have the lower end of the polar axis locked by the last gear and worm of the driving clock-the upper gear permitting changes without interfering with the operation of the clock, as the telescope just rides around the gear as a circular rack.

"Setting circles were engraved on aluminum cake pans."

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