[ATM] telescope plans

[renrepro at surfglobal.net (Ina Ron Lippard Renaissance Reproductions)]

    I hope this is on topic,
    Back when fathers and sons did things together building tree forts,and 
going to museums were a part of a cultural landscape. I'm now in 50's mode 
here.
A how-to magazine called "Mechanix Illustrated often had these kinds of 
projects.They also had telescope plans.If you search their old archives,you 
will find several plans that were originally printed in 1948.Though they 
show you how to grind a mirror,you can substitute this for a piece of 
donated glass from the private sector.
    I was once approached by a correctional institution official who was 
looking for some ideas to train inmates in basic shop prior to being 
released.I suggested a telescope in the schools building program.The 
inmates would build telescopes for various schools around the state,(in 
Vermont at the time).Though the idea fulfilled all the requirements,it was 
deemed impractical because telescopes were a dime a dozen.And besides,your 
never going to get a kid in an eyepiece when there are vid games around 
that are much more exciting.
  Yeah right!
regards,Ron