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West Saanich Rd.(unpaved) with old car parked; dome visible in background
A picture taken prior to 1921 showing a car on the left side of what is currently named West Saanich Road. The Observatory dome is in the background.The vehicle registration number, 4124, indicates that the car belonged to the photographer Edgar…
View of the top of Observatory Hill road
This is a view of the top of Observatory Hill with the site custodian's house on the left, and the dome to the right. The water tower is just visible at the top right of the picture. A man is visible sitting on the railing leading to the house
Uncrating the rimary mirror
A picture of workers preparing to install the primary mirror. The mirror is hanging in the middle of the picture with its surface covered. Visible in the background are the two clocks used by observers. One kept normal time, the other sidereal time.…
Top end of telescope tube
A detailed picture of the top-end of the telescope. Various counter-weights are visible.
Top end of telescope in the Newtonian focus configuration
A picture of the top-end of the telescope in the Newtonian configuration. In this mode the light returning from the primary mirroe was reflected to the side of the telescope tube where a camera was located that took photographs. The secondary mirror…
The spectrograph attached to the telescope
A picture of the spectrograph that J.S. Plaskett designed attached to the telescope. Plaskett paid attention to the details of the design to make it as efficient as possible. The spectrograph could be configured to give higher resolution spectra.…
The spectrograph attached to the telescope
A picture of the spectrograph that J.S. Plaskett designed attached to the telescope. Plaskett paid attention to the details of the design to make it as efficient as possible. Visible in the background are the two clocks used by observers. One kept…
The primary mirror viewed through the mirror cover
A picture taken looking down the telescope tube after the primary mirror has been installed. The primary is visible through the partially open mirror cover.
The orginal office building shortly after completion
A picture of the east side of the office building completed in September 1924. Between 1918 and 1924, the staff had to work on the ground floor of the telescope
The orginal office building shortly after completion
A picture of the west side of the office building completed in September 1924. Between 1918 and 1924, the staff had to work on the ground floor of the telescope
The orginal office building shortly after completion
A picture of the front of the office building completed in September 1924. Between 1918 and 1924, the staff had to work on the ground floor of the telescope
The lower part of the telescope tube attached
In the picture is slowly taking shape. The polar and declination axes are assembled as is lower solid, lower part of the telescope tube.
Temperature recording instuments mounted inside dome
A picture of the temperature recording devices mounted inside the dome. It was important to track the temperature changes from day to night to understand how the telescope would perform.
Telescope's polar axis and declination axis assembled and blocked into position
A picture showing the declination axis attached to the polar axis and supported by wooden supports.
Telescope's polar axis and declination axis assembled and blocked into position
A picture showing the declination axis attached to the polar axis and supported by wooden supports.
Telescope, with lower insulated covering, pointed east
A picture of the telescope with an insulated blanket wrapped around the lower end of the telescope tube. The blanket was used to keep the mirror at a stable temperature. The glass uesed for the mirror was sensitive to temperature variations and the…
Telescope tube removed from cart at site, front portion of tube resting on blocks and wagon visible
A picture of the telescope tube after being removed from cart at the site. The front portion of tube resting on blocks and wagon visible
Telescope tube being hauled by horses up the observatory hill, viewed from behind with workman following cart
A picture of the telescope tube being hauled up the Observatory Hill road by a team of horses.
Telescope pointed south-east, with J.S.Plaskett at control panel
A picture of the completed telescope pointing o the south-east. J.S. Plaskett is standing on the observing floor near a control panel. The mirror handling cart is visible in the background. Visible in the background are the two clocks used by…
Telescope close to complete assembly
A picture of the telescope close to complete assembly. The wooden braces are still in position. This is a view from the telescope tube side.
Telescope close to complete assembly
A picture of the telescope close to complete assembly. The wooden braces are still in position. This is a view from the declination drive side
Telescope being assembled by workmen
A picture of three men working on assembling the telescope. It appears as if they are attaching the declination axis to the polar axis.
Telescope assembled
A picture of the telescope fully assembled and all wooden supports removed. Thomas Tenant Hutchison is standing on the right ascension gear. Hutchison would join the staff of the observatory when it began operation. He maintained the telescope and…
Telescope aiming north/west, view of entire telescope including elevator platform at top of tube, viewed from east
A picture of the telescope fully assembled and all wooden supports removed. The Newtonian platform is visible in the upper right.
Telescope aiming north, view of lower part of telescope with man standing in background
A picture of the lower part of the completed telescope. The electrical panel is attached to the south pier. Thomas Tenant Hutchison has his arm on the declination counter-weight. Hutchison would join the staff of the observatory when it began…
Steam water pump drawing water from well on West Saanich Rd.
The water used during construction was obtained from a well drilled on the site. This proved to be more practical than hauling water up the hill.
Site preparation, wheelbarrow on planks in foreground, Prospect Lake visible
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, view of broken rock and crude wooden forms started
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, men clearing rock with picks shovels and wheelbarrows
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, clearing rock, water tower in background
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, clearing rock
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, broken rock being cleared by hand, water tower in background
Machines used during construction were steam-powered. This water tower was used to keep a supply of water on hand.
Site preparation for Director's House on Little Saanich Mountain
A picture of the construction of what would become the Director's house on Observatory Hill. The north pier of the telescope is visible in the background
Polar axis sitting on the observing floor
A picture of the polar axis sitting on the observing floor between the two piers. The telescope tube is visible in the background
Polar axis rigged for hoisting into place
A picture of the fully assembled polar axis rigged and ready to be hoisted into place on top of the two telescope piers
Polar axis ready to be hoisted from floor of dome into position on the pier
A picture of the polar axis of the telescope ready to be hoisted from the ground floor up to the observing floor. The bottom structure to which the telescope tube will be attached is in the background.
Polar axis in its final position on pier
A picture of the polar axis blocked into its final position on top of the two piers
Polar axis beng removed from hauling cart
A picture of the polar axis being removed from the cart. To do this, the cart had to be dismantled
Polar axis being hoisted into place
A picture of the polar axis, drive gear and bearings assembled ready to be hoisted into place on top of the two piers. A workman is sitting on the top.
Polar axis being chained to lifting equipment by workmen
A picture of the polar axis of the telescope being chained to a winch so that it can raised into the dome.
Polar axis and team of horses travelling up the Observatory Hill road
A picture of the polar axis being hauled by a team of 12 horses. It is near the top of the hill, just before the Director's House. The mostly completed dome is visible through the trees. Is the person standing in front of the dome J.S. Plaskett?
Polar axis and team of horses travelling up the Observatory Hill road
A picture of the polar axis being hauled by a team of 12 horses. It is near the top of the hill, at the Director's House. The mostly completed dome is visible through the trees. Is the person standing in front of the dome J.S. Plaskett waiting for…
Polar axis and team of horses at top of Observatory Hill road
A picture of the polar axis on a horse-drawn wagon at the top of Observatory Hill.
Polar axis and team of horses at hairpin turn on the Observatory Hill road
A picture of the polar axis and a team of horses at the hairpin curve on Observatory Hill road. It appears the teams of horses are being given a break before the next part of the ascent.
Polar axis and other parts sitting on the observing floor
A picture of the polar axis and other partds sitting on the observing floor between the two piers. The telescope tube is visible in the background
Pier, pile of steel for pier frame work, showing crane tower and top of pier
A picture showing the massive concrete pier under construction. The lower part of the north pier has been poured and the metal frame of the form for the upper part is visible. The structure for raising the metal frame pieces is to the left. This was…
Pier, lower half cement, upper half with wood forms, dome perimeter forms, other side
In this picture the lower parts of both the north and south piers (combined in one piece) is completed and the forms for both piers appears to be completed.
Pier, lower half cement, upper half with wood forms, dome perimeter forms started
In this picture the lower parts of both the north and south piers (combined in one piece) is completed and the forms for both piers appears to be completed. The water tower is visible in the background
Pier, front view of lower half cemented, with wood forms, top half showing steel work
A picture showing the massive concrete pier under construction. The lower part of the north pier has been poured and the metal frame of the form for the upper part is visible.