ATM Re: Plate mirrors/GW Ritchey

[Bill Marriott <btk@pacbell.net>]

Richard Schwartz wrote:
> 
> You forgot to mention the most important historical lesson for all of us:
> what happened to the technical guy who ground, polished, and figured that
> mirror?   Encyclopaedic articles on the web talk about him being "exiled" or
> "banished", but how exactly was that accomplished?

That guy, AKA George Ritchey, AKA RC Telescopes, should be recognized as
one of the true masters in optics in his days, especially interesting
are the tales of his figuring of the 60" Mt. Wilson telescope.

Also note, over at the New Chabot Science Center in Oakland, Ca., there
is a temporary exhibit outside the Chem Lab, where the Telescope
workshop is on Friday nites, which includes Ritchey's 24" Newtonian, as
well as a Refractor owned by Einstein, a Fitz, and other interesting
telescopes....

Bill Marriott
http://www.starlightoptical.com
Telescope/Optical Stuff