this link should take interested parties to a marvelous book with fabulous photographs from the early 1900's describing the work done with the Crossley reflector at the Lick observatory.
For adjusting the mirrors there are two collimators. <snip> It consists of a small telescope, which fits the draw-tube at the eye-end. In the focus of the eyepiece are, instead of cross-wires, two adjustable terminals, between which an electric spark can be passed, generated by a small induction machine, like a replenisher, held in the observer’s hand.
A very interesting read. The word 'galaxy' was not in use in 1908, hence the following incorrect but logical assumption:
Quote:
3. Most of these nebulæ have a spiral structure.
<snip>
While I must leave to others an estimate of the importance of these conclusions, it seems to me that they have a very direct bearing on many, if not all, questions concerning the cosmogony. If, for example, the spiral is the form normally assumed by a contracting nebulous mass, the idea at once suggests itself that the solar system has been evolved from a spiral nebula, while the photographs show that the spiral nebula is not, as a rule, characterized by the simplicity attributed to the contracting mass in the nebular hypothesis.
Thanks Brian , a good read .
One thing , have a look at .
Plate 2. THE SPIRAL NEBULAR H.V.1 CETI .
Is that not what we call today NGC253 ?
looke a lot like it.
Brian.
Thanks Brian , a good read . 
thing , have a look at . 
