Well, the last bits are done and installed. I drove up to Sydney to return it to my good friend, Ron.
What a challenge and journey it has been for almost two years! I have Ron to thank for entrusting me with this task. I learned so much about how things used to be done over a century ago, all by hand.
FANTASTIC. Now I can sleep for a few nights before I get onto the next project.....
Thank you Barry for your amazing effort, you have done an outstanding job, the telescope is simply amazing and I used it last night for the first time. I had a small collimation issue but like any scope will work that out as I go along. This ends this chapter of the story but like all good yarns, there is more to come, I definitely have plans for this amazing telescope and will sort out a few things, redo the website for the telescope and then make some announcements in the forums. For now, Barry Rocks, and if anyone wants a skilled and expert person who can virtually do anything with almost zero plans to work from, then Barry's your man.
So very proud and happy Ron and Baz.
Not only does Baz rock but you do to Ron the world owes you big on this one.
I had faith in you and you have not disappointed I have the highest respect for you my friend.
Now the bad news...I will call over when down next I want to get some photos see it in the flesh ... explain the few things you may still not know about the Universe..you know tthe usual stuff.
SO good too see you did it I have never been so right in putting my faith in someone.
AND Baz if you want a project maybe "the mount" ask Grendel about the review it got from someone who knows their stuff... you think about it ..I find it so strange that these opportunities build to reality I am patient but see how it will be so without any more authority of why things work than that please consider it...
It will be the best and you could build it.
Strong enough to carry any gear you can think of and you in a chair... but super accurate, smoothest tracking...best in the world...
So high enough goal or what.
Hi Alex, I hope I recognise you without the beard, what a handsome young man you are. Okay, I’ve just been outside after a phone call from Baz, and I have had a go at collimating the scope in the daylight and I can see some trees ok, so I’ll leave it outside till tonight and try again for a few stars, it’s a little cloudy but still a few hours before nightfall. When you come you will be amazed, that’s for sure, it’s an amazing telescope and especially when you consider back when you gave me the initial components. It has come a long way since then.
I have to find a forge, someplace that can cast in steel or bronze two parts of the mount, which we were quoted $1500.00 for, that of course is a lot of money and I am going to give the telescope away as soon as I get these two parts made, so don’t really want to add any more $$$ towards it. I’ve always known that I am going to donate the scope (Baz and I have talked about this many times) to a worthy establishment where the general public will be able to enjoy it. Baz had his fun doing the rebuild, I had my fun doing the research, the telescope belongs to the people of tomorrow so they can see what the people of 1878 used to view the stars.
If you know any foundries or places that can make a mould and then create two ‘parts’ via using molten metal, then let me know. When I find such a place, I’m going to offer them a website, created and hosted for three years as payment for the task, so hopefully some smallish forge out there might find that an acceptable trade.
I have a forge I would not be able to cast in steel but I think I could do a bronze casting show me the bits a mold is easy I got that sortta stuff around someplace.
You had better find out how they made bronze then as I assume it may well have been bronze the ratios I may even have the copper ore on the block now that would be neat....but I digress... Also the is an artist up here a factory producing art..engineer of highest order... he may like to be involved I will ask him..You have a wood version I guess?
I have a wonderful old book one early metalworking and foundary stuff... I should do it my brother in law is a black smith it would tickle him...he built the forge now I think about it.
It may be cast iron... thats doable ...once cast it cant be machined broonze is machinable .I need to see what you are speaking about.
Alex, you are a lifesaver, come over and take the wooden exact replica away with you, as soon as you see it and touch it, you will understand it's purpose. We have photographs at: http://www.antiquescopes.com/images/...ion17/Dust.jpg
and
I can't wait to see you, boy have you made my day!!!! Come around grab them as soon as possible, even if it's a hit and run visit, day or night, whenever it suits you. Barry can give any technical details you might require also, he is very much the energy behind this project.
Any idea what they were originally ..iron I suspect... I have been reading up... pretty big cast probably need to cool it real slow... anyways there are a few who should be able to help... bronze would be easier.
Anywyas I could try a pewter type composite to practice get mold temps right etc
Alex, I have tons of correspondece from some other Browning owners around the world, plus a zillion close up photographs, plus of course the identical real size replicas built by Barry, you won't have any problems whatsoever. Hurry up and drive over
Any idea what they were originally ..iron I suspect... I have been reading up... pretty big cast probably need to cool it real slow... anyways there are a few who should be able to help... bronze would be easier.
Anywyas I could try a pewter type composite to practice get mold temps right etc
alex
Hi Alex,
The originals were cast iron I believe. However, I saw somewhere that the iron mounts were renown for breaking. Iron I think is too brittle. I think it would be best to go to bronze. The thing gets painted anyway so the color appearance of the metal doesn't matter. Also, once cast some holes will need to be drilled and tapped. I am always here to consult with before you actually do it. In fact, I would prefer it if you did.
Cast iron is brittle ... there must be something scrap immediately suitable a few old taps with more tin and zinc... I dont know the ingredients but copper and stuff mix ok I think...there will be a source of metal.. even pweter would do it the size of it pweter would do it heavy but strong I would say...I will have to make up a beaker for the mix I will source some clay and get started ..anyways I will see what is available etc.
alex
Thank you guys for the discussion on the mount parts, it sounds as if it’s going to be easy to accomplish, that sure is a relief. Okay, yesterday I mention to several people that I had a collimation problem, well that was not true, I re-collimated yesterday (Thanks for your tips Baz), and then last night it was reasonably clear, I tried to use it but got some really weird results. To say I was despondent was an understatement, two years of joint hard work, thousands of dollars in payments and materials and I couldn’t even see one star, actually I couldn’t focus correctly on Venus which was blazing so brightly I thought the Earth would catch fire.
To make a long story short, I had removed the original eyepiece and was trying to use my Meade eyepieces, in a Eureka moment I replaced the original eyepiece and bingo, instant clarity, and great joy. Once again I rang Baz, this time with good news to tell him that I could see the universe as clearly as those men from the 1870’s did and wow, did they have a good view. It made me realise that they (those that could afford a 9.25 inch Browning-With at the time) really had a powerful telescope at their disposal and it brought me closer to understanding the way it might have been back then.
Of course I dragged my wife and grandson out and forced them to look through this magnificent old girl, they were both amazed at the pin point clarity, frankly so am I, the quality is great by any age standard. The wife went inside but my 10 year old grandson Jake stayed out with me till well past midnight and I swear to you that he (Jake) was using the telescope and said ‘Pop, take a look at these nice stars”, when I looked you could have knocked me over, he had happened on Jupiter complete with escorting moons. To be sure they were very small in the eyepiece, but they were clear and unmistakable.
During the course of the four hours I spent using the telescope last night, before the clouds rolled in and drove me to bed, I can assure anyone who might be interested, that all the effort by all the people over the last couple of years has been more than worth it and collectively we have achieved something wonderful. It will be a fine day indeed when we ultimately deliver the scope to its final resting place where it can be viewed by the general public as we move forward in time.
