Re: [APML] Schmidt camera survives house fire

[Robert Reeves <reeves10@swbell.net>]

> Robert,
>
> Until you test it, I wouldn't assume the corrector survived. It may have
> slumped.
>
> Steve...

Two things make me confident that did not happen.  The aluminum structure of
the camera would have suffered buckling or warpage if it got that hot.  It
did not.  Like I said, I think the inundation of rain water saved the camera
from the heat.  Remember, this happened when we were getting 20 inches of
rain.  The ash was likely washed onto and into the camera by the water, not
the camera actually being in the flames.  And second, as soon as it was
clean enough to see through the optics, I put it on my focus test stand and
scanned the film holder focal plane up and down and across.  It was in
consistent focus all the way across.  This makes me confident that the
optics will be fine and all we need to do now wait for the mirror to be
realuminized and assemble and focus the beast.  It should take about three
weeks to get the mirror back.  After that, I'll post the progress of this
project on my Schmidt guide web pages.

Robert Reeves                      reeves10@swbell.net
520 Rittiman Rd.                   www.robertreeves.com
San Antonio, Texas 78209    210-828-9036
USA                                     29.484  98.440  200 meters


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