7-inch circular flat mirror
Date: circa 1937
Inventory Number: 1996-1-0477
Classification: Mirror
Maker: Albert B. Focke (fl. 1930s)
Maker: Harvard College Observatory (founded 1839)
User: Fletcher G. Watson (1912 - 1997)
User: Oak Ridge Station (1931 - 2005)
User: George R. Agassiz Station, Harvard (1951 - 1982)
User: Harvard College Observatory (founded 1839)
Dimensions:
mirror: 17.8 x 17.8 x 0.7 cm (7 x 7 x 1/4 in.)
box: 2.9 x 22.7 x 23.1 cm (1 1/8 x 8 15/16 x 9 1/8 in.)
Description:
7-inch circular flat mirror has front-surface silvering on glass. It is stored in a flat, fitted plywood box with one hinge. It is held closed by a screw, and suitable for mailing. The mirror is aluminized by evaporation.
A mailing label from the Harvard College Observatory is on the top of the box along with 3 postage stamps (one missing). The stamps are 5 cents each and have Theodore Roosevelt on them.
A mailing label from the Harvard College Observatory is on the top of the box along with 3 postage stamps (one missing). The stamps are 5 cents each and have Theodore Roosevelt on them.
Signedreturn address on mailing label: HARVARD COLLEGE OBSERVATORY / CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
addressee on mailing label: DR. ALBERT B. FOCKE / WILSON HALL / BROWN UNIVERSITY / PROVIDENCE, R. I.
addressee on mailing label: DR. ALBERT B. FOCKE / WILSON HALL / BROWN UNIVERSITY / PROVIDENCE, R. I.
Inscribedin pencil on mailing label: For / Fletcher Watson
stamped on box lid: FRAGILE
in white crayon on box front edge: 7" x 1/4" MIRROR
stamped on box lid: FRAGILE
in white crayon on box front edge: 7" x 1/4" MIRROR
Historical AttributesDr. Albert B. Focke of the Physics Department of Brown University was knowledgeable in the new method of aluminizing glass mirrors by evaporation, which was developed by physicists in the years following 1928. He gave a number of talks and demonstrations on the subject, one talk being on April 1, 1935 to the Skyscrapers Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island and another to the AAVSO meeting at Ladd Observatory in the spring of 1938.
It is assumed that the Harvard College Observatory was sending him these mirrors for aluminizing.
Fletcher Watson (1912-1997) was an astronomer who completed his Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1938. He then joined the HCO staff. His specialty was comets and meteorites.
Five-cent stamps with the portrait of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt were issued from 1922 to 1934.
It is assumed that the Harvard College Observatory was sending him these mirrors for aluminizing.
Fletcher Watson (1912-1997) was an astronomer who completed his Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1938. He then joined the HCO staff. His specialty was comets and meteorites.
Five-cent stamps with the portrait of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt were issued from 1922 to 1934.
ProvenanceHarvard College Observatory, circa 1922-1934; lent to Dr. Albert B. Focke, Physics Department, Brown University; returned to Harvard College Observatory for use by Fletcher Watson, ca. 1935-1939; Harvard College Observatory, Agassiz Station; transferred to CHSI, 1969.