The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-20
PAlNE'S TELEs COPE.

MIR. PAINE has furnished the Worcester Mass
Palladium with the following description Of the pow
erfu TELESCOPE which he is constructing at his
place of business in the adjoining town of Leicester
CLAPPuLLs, August Z, 1873
DEAR SIR In comrla lance with your request for
ward you description Of the instrument we are now
constructing On a sold zee OF masonry, thniy-
six feet square, circular rail of nine feet radii Il
land. "A platform OF cast iron, circul m form and
tweniy-eight feet diameter supported on twelve
wheels of four feet diameter traverses tins rail On
tins platform the tube Of the telescope is elevated
the plaform as Sou will erceive being 20 construct
ed as TO enable the manager Of the instrument 10 ~.
rect the tube TO any particular point Of the heavens
IN a horizontal line. The rotary motion is given 10
the carriage by the action Of pnion in rack rail
beneath the platform the power is given the pinon
by dherential screw, acting wheel hose shaft
pasSes through the pnion. This arrangement obtains
slow and steady movement and so great is ths
power OF the hand-wheel attached the diherental
screw that ten pounds Suspended TO its arms will
give motion 10 the entire instrument whose weight
will be nearly eight tons. Ten feet fromihe edge Of
the platform opening five feet W de xfends TO near.
it. centre; from the edge Of this opening an in
Glued plane descends at angle that would square
the radius Of the curve Of the instrument while eng
elevated from horizontal to perpendicular line
thus enabling the observer 10 mainain the same an
gle Of vision when viewing the planet in The zenith
as In the horizon. On each side Of the abovemen-
toned aperture rise two cast iron supports fesen-
bling The sides Of heavy gun carriage. These sup
ports receive cast-iron framework, which holds
The powerend Of the tube, and forms the centre Of
the described by the tube in passing from lorl-
zontal 10 a perpendicular position. Another cast
4 on framework whose area at base Is twelve feet
whose apex FIVE, and whose height is iwenty-iour
feet, rises from the PLATFORM the centre Of IFS square
at the top being perpendicular the centre OF The
platform. On the top OF this elevated frame work
grooyed purchase wheel Is rigged over which passes
a cable end of which is attached 10 concentra-
ton OF braces on the tube, the other passes round
drum hch IS worked in the same manner as tie re-
volvng platform, 10y diferentia screw.) By thls
apparatus the tube, which made from thick Ru STA
iron, and IL as feet long and four feet diameter
Is raised 10 any required angle. In the power end of
the tube mirror Of forfy-six inches diane.
ter and forty feet focal length placed havi, an
aperture IN is centre Of and one-haf nc ea
through which pass the lens tubes conta,nin Apana
tic, Achromatic, and Mentus lenses six and oue
quarter inches in diameter. In the fgu OF The large
mirror just mentioned, another mirror Of fourteen in
ches diameter and thirty-sx feet focal length il
placed, from which adjusting screws extend 70 the
hand Of the managing observer.
II is we'll known that alteration Of rays is the result
OF very high magnify ny power and this optical
fact has led many to assert that distinct telescope
action Is limited to some Twelve or eighteen hundred
power; for order TO obtain highly maenilrd image
Of an object, without aberratiou combination of len
ses quste; and il is evident that The more dense
a medium becomes, The amt the reflection of the
image passing through it will appear.
The only part Of the instrument we claim as our
own is the form and combination n me lenses which SO
far from being limited by eighteen hundred pccsrs
claims magnifJing power Of ELEVEN Tuous,Nn.
have given you as concise description as NV
unaccustomed pen car portray of the instrument "a
It will appear when completed The mirrors which
are by far the most difficult part Of the work. arc
finished, together with the lenses, and also eli The
small apparatus.
have seen notice in your journal copied from
New YORK paper, Of R,fiocting Telescope now build.
ing IN that city and understand that the Cambridge
Committee have decided on having the same kind of
an instrument. cannot conceive why the preference
should be given 10 an instrument long since super
seded. Perhaps some Of your readers will he Kind
enough TO give us the rubrais of the choice through
your columns. Yours, truly,
HENRY NJ PAINE