Telescope Making

Amateur Telescope Making

I then learned how to effectively use a South Bend Lathe, a band saw and evently machined a nice aluminum and steel equatorial mount. The mounting also featured bronz bearings and stainless steel counter weights. I eventually joined the Advanced Telescope Makers Group to work on a 3 mirror Schiefspiegler reflector.

Although, the Telescope Makers Groups, at Brashear closed down in the 1970's the experience of grinding optics and learning machine work has lasted me a lifetime. Various mirrors and optical surfaces have been ground & polished by me and some are represented within this website.

A rare historic Spherometer made by famed Telescope Maker Horrace Dall. Co - Inventor of the Dall-Kirkham Telescope. Pictured on a 4-1/4" Pyrex Mirror Blank and an regular 6 inch optical flat in box on the right.

Al Paslow Optical Instrument Collection.

Precision Optical Flat Testing Sphere

In order to test certain optical surfaces, such as refractor lenses, and mirrors that have convex surfaces it becomes neccessary to test optical tube assemblies by auto-collimation. Hence an accurate optical flat is indespensible. Photo shows an 8 inch Zerodur optical flat with a surface accuracy of 1/10 wave of light. The stability of Zerodur is amazing. No waiting for your substrate to cool down! I have Zerodur flats in 4, 6 and 8 inch sizes. Also pictured is a precision digital micrometer with a spherical head. This device can be substitued in almost any spherometer and is accurate to within 50 millionths of an inch!!

Al Paslow Optical Instrument Collection.


				*Amateur Telescope Making*



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		I've been making telescopes for 37 years. My first mirror was started on Sept 18, 1967. This started from an 8 inch f-8 full thickness Pyrex blank # 7740. I was only 12 years old and became a member of The Amatuer Astronomers of Pittsburgh Telecope Makers Group. Meeting in the south side at Brashear Center; on mondays & wendsdays I ground & polished the mirror approx 1/15 wave of sodium light. I then learned how to effectively use a South Bend Lathe, a band saw and evently machined a nice aluminum and steel equatorial mount. The mounting also featured bronz bearings and stainless steel counter weights. I eventually joined the Advanced Telescope Makers Group to work on a 3 mirror Schiefspiegler reflector. Although, the Telescope Makers Groups, at Brashear closed down in the 1970's the experience of grinding optics and learning machine work has lasted me a lifetime. Various mirrors and optical surfaces have been ground & polished by me and some are represented within this website.



		A rare historic Spherometer made by famed Telescope Maker Horrace Dall. Co - Inventor of the Dall-Kirkham Telescope. Pictured on a 4-1/4" Pyrex Mirror Blank and an regular 6 inch optical flat in box on the right. *Al Paslow Optical Instrument Collection.* Here I'll add information about my first pet. I'll explain what type of animal he is and describe some of his favorite tricks.


								Precision Optical Flat Testing Sphere In order to test certain optical surfaces, such as refractor lenses, and mirrors that have convex surfaces it becomes neccessary to test optical tube assemblies by auto-collimation. Hence an accurate optical flat is indespensible. Photo shows an 8 inch Zerodur optical flat with a surface accuracy of 1/10 wave of light. The stability of Zerodur is amazing. No waiting for your substrate to cool down! I have Zerodur flats in 4, 6 and 8 inch sizes. Also pictured is a precision digital micrometer with a spherical head. This device can be substitued in almost any spherometer and is accurate to within 50 millionths of an inch!! Al Paslow Optical Instrument Collection.