New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-04
LENSES AND LENS-MAhERS.
From The Boston Herald.

From The Boston Herald.
several important and aISe orders for telescopes s sT
for America and Enrope One OF them for the Bruce
Photographic teesGoI ior a5o5er S sor he University
at Denver, and third for the University OF southern
beside 70, Rp 5e nvsTS q Southern cator
MIA is To- be the largest made eclpsing even the
famous S one OF the fc Or forty noes in
diameter. The glass alone has come over to NJ.
sent but was accidentally broken Just before shipment.
occasionns loss OF thousands OF dollars upon the
DISTINGUISHED As the fIm has made itself the world
over il came into being almost by accident. as Il were
I'm the early PAT Of the century served nine Years Of his
youth at engraving and calico printing! first IN Lowell
he came 10 Boston, and made modest livelihood 10,
twenty yeaI> by pursuing the seftaught art OF
The art Of photography being discovered about that
time a friend remarked 10 him that people would have
further for his profession. This set hlm thnk
ing though what most directly led 10 his subsequent
career WAS his son, Avian. irs evident taste tF
While Young Avian was at Phillips Academy at
Andover 4c made all The castings OF lelei S III
deer y interests devote his whole attention 10 ~
and having been led by accident to attempt the srind-
p,,vonsiy made Willie testing some lenses he discov-
cred some difficult double stars and when compleung
an l5nch glass for the Chicago Observatory. MS son
Avian turned his glass upon Sirius where he discovered
a companion to that star. -, A..
For this discovery young Avian was AWARDED the
Iennde medal bv Professor Chaucsnac. of the French
Academy Of science Numerous other discoveries to
,lariS was increased by the sale Of telescopes
TO institutions in Europe and America. one Of these
early contracts was for a o6-nch glass, ordered Nv
Congress for the National Observatory. the cost Of
which was 100000 in gold Another was iGr IN,
great Russian observatory, ordered by tue ceIeoFdc"
An interesting incident in connection with this Rus
sian order occurred nj the Custom house. When the
glasses were imported from Paris. Avian. ir, went
TO the custom house where they were deialned
,en in me cb ne' Of the cGs6ms said Wen clark
we've got you for once. You have mad everytnmg. :.
glass is neither for colleges nor the Government 'ey
are taxable goods ,
don't know about that replied Mr. Clark. ~l'l
get ont oi it If can" and going INFO the law once
Of friend. he sscertaned that goods sent 10 Consul
or resident foreign Minister were EXEMPT from al
import AK. lie then wrote 10 II friend in Washington
This friend the Russian Minister and the Secretay
of state and the result that the secrc AIRY Of the
Treasury wrote to Mr.. Fitz telling him 10 release the
The process which telescope lenses have TO 20
through is long and slow one After one is received
from Paris in is more or les rough stat II Is pssen
Of speed. The finest OF sharp steel instruments
cuts out the surplus glass Of the surfaces. and
smoothing machine. moving in constantly chans.
Ing curve. Is To- months and month, kept passing
over It's surface before the lens can BE- used Dunnc
this time il Is tested. perhaps hundreds OF times b,
The aid Of silver mirror I'LL lis proper focal power
az The interesting ~ thc many process. all
Of which are exceedingly intricate and delicate; ON
made 10 pass through the hens. and reflected back
through It from the mirror Until all the inepal'e'
~ density in the glass removed, the ( isht
fHn>mttcd Is not perfect in shape Back and forh
the lens goes from the grinding and smoothing machine
70 the testing apparatus. until the tiny of light :
perfect when first leaves the little lamp thai
sends IL forth.
The grinding machine is most ingenious affair. rs
T. worried by two cramkS one OF which rcvOvcs sev"n-
teen times 10 the one time that its fellow moves
around This makes the lens present constantly
changing surface 10 that which Is polishing II. Rcd
oxide Of iron is used for the grinding and beesway
brings our the nOlish. l'ut after the machines
have done all their fine work II remains for human
fngers n compete the polishing proccss.