The oldest image in the collection is this one:
The writing on the envelope that contained the glass negative for this shot indicated that the image is from 1929. It was labeled: 4" telescope & stand used for testing seeing.
That means that this telescope is likely one of the ones that was used to evaluate the conditions on various mountain tops as a part of the survey to decide which mountain would be chosen as the home for the 200-inch telescope. Palomar was, of course, finally chosen in 1934. I do not know what became of the site testing telescopes.
The photo was taken by Ferdinand Ellerman.
UPDATE: Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Matt who noticed that there were letters on a box that were backward, meaning that the image was reversed. It has now been corrected. The letters on the box were from a Van Dyck cigar box, shown in full resolution below:
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5 comments:
Scott!!!! WOW!!! To read of these telescopes and now to see one!!! This is ssssooooo exciting and amazing! Thanks for scanning and posting this image!
Your blog is so important as a way of showing the world all things Palomar!
Thanks!
I love it! Look at the details in the background, notice the lathe....
Ben, I am happy to be able to share these shots.
Jim, I certainly agree that the items in the background make this a much cooler picture as it gives a glimpse to a different era.
Hi, I think the picture is shown "flipped" left to right, as the wording on the box visible in the lower left is reversed. Also, while I would need to double check the editions of "Amateur Telescope Making" by Porter/Ingalls, I think this example is also pictured in one of those volumes and is identified as a Palomar site survey scope.
Thanks for catching that Matt! I have flipped the image to the correct orientation.
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