1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
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1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
I am one of the Trustees at the Seagrave Observatory in N. Scituate RI. We were founded in 1914 when Frank Seagrave moved his 8" Clark refractor from East Providence to N. Scituate and built an observatory. His parents gave him the Clark for his 16th birthday in 1876 but it took two years for it to be built.
The telescope that sits atop the silo-like structure at Seagrave Memorial Observatory is the pride and joy of the Skyscrapers organization. It is a refractor with a lens 8 ¼ - inches in diameter and a focal length of 105 inches, providing an f-ratio of about 13. The Clark telescope was purchased by Skyscrapers in November 1936 from the estate of Walter F. Angell, a cousin of Frank Evens Seagrave who had bequeathed it to him in August 1934. Though this antique telescope was refurbished in 2003, the quality of the images provided by the refractive glass elements in the front of the tube has never wavered.
In fact, while Skyscrapers history with the instrument goes back to 1936, it is indeed much older than that. You see, in 1878, a young man from Providence, Frank Evens Seagrave, received this Clark telescope for his 16th birthday present. (Frank turned 16 years old in 1876. However, it took two years for the scope to be built and delivered.) At his father’s residence at 119 Benefit Street they built the first Seagrave observatory (also a silo-like structure) to house the telescope.
There it stayed, collecting the light of the Moon, the planets, comets, asteroids and variable stars until coal dust and gas lamps lighting the city streets started to affect Frank’s observations. He looked around New England and finally settled upon 47 Peeptoad Road in North Scituate, where he built our Seagrave Memorial Observatory and moved his beautiful Alvan Clark to in 1914.
And the rest, they say, is history.
The telescope that sits atop the silo-like structure at Seagrave Memorial Observatory is the pride and joy of the Skyscrapers organization. It is a refractor with a lens 8 ¼ - inches in diameter and a focal length of 105 inches, providing an f-ratio of about 13. The Clark telescope was purchased by Skyscrapers in November 1936 from the estate of Walter F. Angell, a cousin of Frank Evens Seagrave who had bequeathed it to him in August 1934. Though this antique telescope was refurbished in 2003, the quality of the images provided by the refractive glass elements in the front of the tube has never wavered.
In fact, while Skyscrapers history with the instrument goes back to 1936, it is indeed much older than that. You see, in 1878, a young man from Providence, Frank Evens Seagrave, received this Clark telescope for his 16th birthday present. (Frank turned 16 years old in 1876. However, it took two years for the scope to be built and delivered.) At his father’s residence at 119 Benefit Street they built the first Seagrave observatory (also a silo-like structure) to house the telescope.
There it stayed, collecting the light of the Moon, the planets, comets, asteroids and variable stars until coal dust and gas lamps lighting the city streets started to affect Frank’s observations. He looked around New England and finally settled upon 47 Peeptoad Road in North Scituate, where he built our Seagrave Memorial Observatory and moved his beautiful Alvan Clark to in 1914.
And the rest, they say, is history.
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
What a beautiful telescope, and in such good shape.
There is a similar Alvan Clark telescope at Amherst College, not as clean and well kept, but still in use until Covid started. It was built in 1903 and I believe it is an 18 inch design.
There is a similar Alvan Clark telescope at Amherst College, not as clean and well kept, but still in use until Covid started. It was built in 1903 and I believe it is an 18 inch design.
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Thanks very much for the interesting historical post.
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Very nice, we also have an Alvan Clark at our club's observatory, 8" f15.
Don't recall the year it was built, but some elderly lady in Charleston, SC gave it to us![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)
Don't recall the year it was built, but some elderly lady in Charleston, SC gave it to us
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)
Clear Skies,
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![telewink :telescopewink:](./images/smilies/animated-telescope-image-0003.gif)
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Nice
I might not always be right but I am never wrong, once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken...
Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #59
Free advice is seldom cheap
"Sometimes having is not so pleasing as wanting, it's not logical but it is true"
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Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #59
Free advice is seldom cheap
"Sometimes having is not so pleasing as wanting, it's not logical but it is true"
Commander Spock
Canon DSLR's R7, R6II, 5D, 7D2, 90D 21 lenses incl. 100-400L mk ii, 70-200L mk iii f/2.8, RF600/11
Lunt LS50 DS, LS80 DS, Lunt 102ED, Stellarvue SV80 APO, Orion ST80, 127 MAK, Skywatcher Evostar 120ED, 102 MAK, Celestron 8" Edge HD, 102AZ
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Beautiful instruments, I would love to spend a evening viewing with it.
Thank you for the history Jeff![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)
Thank you for the history Jeff
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)
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![Image](https://theskysearchers.com/app.php/gallery/image/2579/source)
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Beautiful instrument. The scopes are as much works of art as they are scientific instruments. The East Bay Astronomical Society uses an 8" Alvan Clark housed in the Chabot Observatory in Oakland that dates back to 1883, gifted by Anthony Chabot, a water magnate who designed the water supply of Oakland.
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Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Our Clark is open to the public on our public nights. www.theskyscrapers.org
I might not always be right but I am never wrong, once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken...
Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #59
Free advice is seldom cheap
"Sometimes having is not so pleasing as wanting, it's not logical but it is true"
Commander Spock
Canon DSLR's R7, R6II, 5D, 7D2, 90D 21 lenses incl. 100-400L mk ii, 70-200L mk iii f/2.8, RF600/11
Lunt LS50 DS, LS80 DS, Lunt 102ED, Stellarvue SV80 APO, Orion ST80, 127 MAK, Skywatcher Evostar 120ED, 102 MAK, Celestron 8" Edge HD, 102AZ
Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
ZWO ASI071MC-cool, ASI174mm, ASI174mm-cool, ASI178MC-cool, ASI290 mini, ASI120MM-S, ASI120MC Revolution Player One mm (178 chip)
Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #59
Free advice is seldom cheap
"Sometimes having is not so pleasing as wanting, it's not logical but it is true"
Commander Spock
Canon DSLR's R7, R6II, 5D, 7D2, 90D 21 lenses incl. 100-400L mk ii, 70-200L mk iii f/2.8, RF600/11
Lunt LS50 DS, LS80 DS, Lunt 102ED, Stellarvue SV80 APO, Orion ST80, 127 MAK, Skywatcher Evostar 120ED, 102 MAK, Celestron 8" Edge HD, 102AZ
Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
ZWO ASI071MC-cool, ASI174mm, ASI174mm-cool, ASI178MC-cool, ASI290 mini, ASI120MM-S, ASI120MC Revolution Player One mm (178 chip)
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Imagine getting that scope for your 16th birthday! Haha
I suspect that the vast majority of those old, Clark refractors are located in places that are pretty light polluted. But because they are best suited for planetary and double star observations, they are still useful--especially for public outreach.
I suspect that the vast majority of those old, Clark refractors are located in places that are pretty light polluted. But because they are best suited for planetary and double star observations, they are still useful--especially for public outreach.
Gordon
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse
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helicon
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Re: 1878 Alvan Clark 8" refractor
Definitely true aboutArctic wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:26 pm Imagine getting that scope for your 16th birthday! Haha
I suspect that the vast majority of those old, Clark refractors are located in places that are pretty light polluted. But because they are best suited for planetary and double star observations, they are still useful--especially for public outreach.
.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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