A brass stand on a heavy iron tripod base. At the top of the stand there are two v-shaped holders to cup a telescope. Beneath this there is a knurled knob; when loosened, this allows the holders and the support below to rotate, also turning a long metal pointer. This pointer rests on a graduated section that sticks out from the stand perpendicularly. It is graduated from 0 (at one edge), to 30 (at another), with 15 in the middle.
Two additional knurled knobs allow the stand to be fixed in a raised position, and to allow the vertical orientation of the telescope to be adjusted.
Accession Number: 2019.ast.110 (DAA-0001)
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Metal: Iron Alloy, Metal: Copper Alloy
On the very top of the stand, engraved: “The CHICAGO LABORATORY SUPPLY & SCALE
CHICAGO, ILL”
Dimensions (cm): Length = 33, Width = 23, Height = 29.8
This object is a simple stand for a telescope.
Good: This metal and painted surfaces of the stand are scratched, particularly on the corners. On the v-shaped holders at the very top of the stand, there are indications of where a telescope has been rested repeatedly in the Vs. On the top of the stand there are traces of a brown material, perhaps felt, that provided a cushion for the telescope. The surface of the metal pointer has uniformly gone rusty; other evidence of mild corrosion exists on the tripod base where the paint has been scratched off.
Associated Instruments:
Chicago Laboratory Supply & Scale Company, Chicago, Illinois
Date of Manufacture: Late 19th century
This object was moved from the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill in 2009, upon the sale of the observatory. They were stored at the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics until 2017, when it was moved to a new storage location in McLennan Physical Laboratories.
Additional Information and References:
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