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Wooden telescope model on top of filing cabinet
A picture of a early wooden model of the telescope and part of the dome structure. This is likely sitting in the offices of the Warner & Swasey Co. who built the telescope.
Woman with 3 girls in swim suits sitting on rock at Beaver or Elk Lake
A picture of a woman and three young woman taken at a lake.
Wheels and track (to rotate dome) assembled on ground, outside Warner & Swasey factory, Cleveland
A picture of the assembled track structure on which the dome would sit
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 Victoria from DAO site
A picture taken from Observatory Hill looking South showing Victoria
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
View of Elk Lake and distance from DAO site
A picture taken from Observatory Hill looking North-East showing Elk Lake, Saanich and the Salish Sea
View (magnified) of Victoria from DAO site
A picture taken from Observatory Hill looking South showing Victoria
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.…
Tracks for rotating the dome, being built inside Warner & Swasey factory, Cleveland
A picture of sections of the tracks on which the rotating dome would sit. The track is the same used for railways.
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 with J.S. Plaskett and 2 colleagues outside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of assembled telescope tube outside the Warner & Swasey factory. John Stanley Plaskett is in the right, in the middle is Ambrose Swasey. The man on the left is Edward Burrell and engineer of Warner & Swasey
Telescope Tube with engineer outside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland, ready for shipping to Victoria
A picture of assembled telescope tube outside the Warner & Swasey factory ready for shipping to Victoria
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 on rail tracks outside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland, ready for shipping to Victoria
A picture of assembled telescope tube outside the Warner & Swasey factory ready for shipping to Victoria
Telescope Tube on rail tracks outside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland, ready for shipping to Victoria
A picture of assembled telescope tube outside the Warner & Swasey factory.
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 scale model, finished, real telescope in background inside Warner & Swasey factory, Cleveland
A picture of of the completed model in front of the assembled telescope in the Warner & Swasey factory. It was standard practice to test assemble large structures before they were shipped to be erected at the actual site
Telescope scale model, finished, inside Warner & Swasey factory, Cleveland
A picture of the finished model of the telescope and dome. The telescope and dome could be moved. The telescope was moved by inserting a rod into the base of the telescope where it connected to the gears. This model was exhibited in the 1915…
Telescope scale model, finished closeup view at Warner & Swasey factory, Cleveland
A picture of the finished model of the telescope and dome. The telescope and dome could be moved. The telescope was moved by inserting a rod into the base of the telescope where it connected to the gears. This model was exhibited in the 1915…
Telescope scale model, being built at Warner & Swasey, Cleveland, shows factory machinery
A picture of the lower half of the 1/10th scale model of the telescope and dome that was built by Warner & Swasey. This is an excellent image of their workshop showing a series of lathes powered by leather belts all connecting back to the power…
Telescope scale model, almost finished at Warner & Swasey, Cleveland, shows factory machinery
A picture of the almost completed model of the telescope and dome. The telescope and dome could be moved. The telescope was moved by inserting a rod into the base of the telescope where it connected to the gears. This model was exhibited in the 1915…
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 inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
An excellent picture of the assembled telescope inside the Warner & Swasey factory
Telescope being assembled inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of the telescope being assembled inside the Warner & Swasey factory
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 inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
An excellent picture of the assembled telescope inside the Warner & Swasey factory
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.