Perkins Observatory
Early history: NSB -> NBS
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The building and telescope mount were completed in less than two years. The work was done by the Warner and Swasey Company of Cleveland, Ohio. (Warner and Swasey also built other observatories and telescopes, including [[Yerkes Observatory]] near [[Chicago]], [[Theodore Jacobsen Observatory]] in [[Seattle, Washington]], [[McCormick Observatory]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], and (of course) the [[Warner and Swasey Observatory]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].) The building included a lecture room, library, office space, walk-in vault, small bedroom for visiting astronomers, and spacious work rooms and metal fabrication shops. |
The building and telescope mount were completed in less than two years. The work was done by the Warner and Swasey Company of Cleveland, Ohio. (Warner and Swasey also built other observatories and telescopes, including [[Yerkes Observatory]] near [[Chicago]], [[Theodore Jacobsen Observatory]] in [[Seattle, Washington]], [[McCormick Observatory]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], and (of course) the [[Warner and Swasey Observatory]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].) The building included a lecture room, library, office space, walk-in vault, small bedroom for visiting astronomers, and spacious work rooms and metal fabrication shops. |
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[[File:Crump and Burgess Inspecting 69 inch telescope lens (circa 1928).png|thumb|69 inch telescope lens being inspected by head of |
[[File:Crump and Burgess Inspecting 69 inch telescope lens (circa 1928).png|thumb|69 inch telescope lens being inspected by head of NBS and Perkins Observatory]] |
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However, Professor Perkins had stipulated that the telescope mirror be cast in the [[United States]]. At this time no U.S. companies had experience in [[casting]] such a large mirror, so the [[National Bureau of Standards]] agreed to take on the project. It can be argued that casting of this mirror launched the optical glass industry in the United States. |
However, Professor Perkins had stipulated that the telescope mirror be cast in the [[United States]]. At this time no U.S. companies had experience in [[casting]] such a large mirror, so the [[National Bureau of Standards]] agreed to take on the project. It can be argued that casting of this mirror launched the optical glass industry in the United States. |
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