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Unknown

Unidentified · Astronomy

This object has a solid rectangular metal base. Mounted horizontally on top of this on a chunky curved metal support is a cylindrical microscope tube (both the tube and the support are parts of a repurposed microscope). Added to one end of the tube there is an additional cylindrical piece with a slit at the far end.

At the other end there is a a single fixed microscope lens. This is pointed at the centre of a metal disk 18cm in diameter. This disk has at its centre an octagonal plate which is mounted on the disk at a slightly angle. At the centre of this there is a small round hole through the disk.

Accession Number: 2018.ast.81

Alternative Name:

Primary Materials:

Metal: Iron Alloy, Metal: Copper Alloy, Glass

Markings:

Engraved on the tube of the microscope: “STEINDORFF & CO
BERLIN
48363”

On the microscope lens: “160/0.17
6.3/0.20”
“MELLES GRIOT”

Scratched at the cardinal points around the rim of the disk: “180” “27” “0” “30”

Written on a moving company sticker stuck to the base: “Stefan”

Dimensions (cm): Length = 32, Width = 22, Height = 21.4

Function: Unknown optical purpose.

Condition:

Very Good: The whole object is dusty. The brass exposed surfaces and some of the iron alloy surfaces on the microscope parts of the instruments are corroded. The surfaces of the base and disk are in good condition, with some dirt and grime visible. Empty screw holes suggest that this is a part of a larger instrument.

A moving sticker has been stuck to the base; this is partly peeled off.

Associated Instruments:

Manufacturer:

Locally made; Steindorff & Company, Berlin; Melles Griot

Date of Manufacture: Mid 20th Century

Provenance:

This object was likely moved from the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill in 2008, upon the sale of the observatory. It was 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:

This object has been constructed out of parts from other instruments and newly machined parts.

Historical Notes:

Themes: