George Calver 12.3" F6.6 Newtonian On #2 Observatory Mount
The Calver is very well traveled. It started out in England, went to France, then to Texas, then to Africa, back to Texas, then to Illinois, and now in Missouri. The book below is about a group of eclipse chasers - they took the Calver to the Sahara desert.
The scope was built in England. Broadhurst & Clarkson sold it to Peridier, who was in France. He did some modifications, so now it has Whitworth and Metric fittings. It was further modified in Texas with SAE hardware. When it went to the Sahara desert, it was again modified. Somewhere along the line it ended up with some custom made bolts/nuts.
When I started restoration, I did not even realize it was a rotating tube assembly. The rings had paint and dried grease on them, which prevented the tube from rotating. I cleaned it all off, and although it is rather heavy, it is useable.
There have been mand different focusers, also a lot of instrumentation and other accessories. This boils down to : There are a lot of holes in the tube. I repainted the interior with flat black, and put bolts with washers and nuts in the holes. As large and heavy as the scope is, it moves pretty easy. It was also fitted with a 18.75" Byers gear. The original worm and wheel is present.
Signatures and dates when mirror was resilvered
More signatures
George Calver signature and date
More signatures
Tilting mirror makes Calver signature show up better
I had to modify the mount for my location
Where different focusers and instrumentation was mounted
Tube with rotating ring
Rotating ring - broke on both sides of bolts - so what was keeping tube from dropping?
Back of mirror cell
Original worm gear
Original wheel and gear
R.A. drive
My wife's favorite picture (If it's not heavy never mind I don't want it.)
Top of mount
Installing Byers
Original worm and gear
Byers 18.75"
Mirror cell on tube
