ATM Ads In 1950 Scientific American

["M.E. Germann" <CCMEG@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>]

ATM Ads In 1950 SCIENTIFIC AMERICANS --

Val Germann
Central Missouri Astronomical Association

There were several ads of interest to ATMs in these magazines.
None of the ads had phone numbers in them.  And, needless to
say, the words "Visa, Mastercard accepted," nowhere appeared.
Back in those days you wrote. . .as we did in the 1960s, too.

United Binocular of Chicago sold a Zeiss-style 7X50 for $69.50,
stating that it was "superb."  Brownscope Co., of New York, sold
something similiar for about $50.00, stating that it was "the
best binocular value ever offered."  Precision Optical Supply,
also of New York City, offered "everything for the amateur
telescope maker," blanks, aluminizing and mirror making kits.
They offered to "test mirrors free."

Tinsley Labs, of Berkeley, offered "the first astronomical
instrument capable of serious research for under $200.00."
It was a 3-inch, f/15 refractor, "made by the West's largest
makers of observatory instruments."  The photo shows a small
refractor on an alt-azimuth mount. . .just like the $50.00
knock-off I bought 15 years later from Sears!!  Wowsers, that's
where that came from!

Edmund Salvage and A. Jaegers shared the same page that year,
the former offering "assemble your own" binoculars, sold in
pieces, to avoid a Federal Excise Tax!  Jaegers was selling
refractor objectives, surplus ones, with a 3.25-inch, f/13
version going for $30.00.  The also sold "imported" 7X50
binoculars for $34.00 and 500 (!) sheets of 7" by 11" lens
paper for, get this, ONE DOLLAR!  Those were the days, I guess.

I was a tiny baby as this issue went to press. . .am I a third-
generation ATM, or a fourth-generation one?  I made my first
telescope from Edmund parts in 1966, a 4.25-inch reflector that
cost about $100.00 total, to put together.  But I didn't start
grinding until about ten years ago.
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