Watson Scope Restoration

As described in HAL's history, HAL was entrusted with the Watson Telescope, from by the estate of Paul S. Watson, a professional astronomer with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Little is known about the manufacture and early use of this telescope, except that it was made sometime in the 1930's or 1940's and it was the primary instrument used by Paul Watson for his astronomical research. It was located on his property overlooking the Magothy river.

Although the optical and mechanical configuration of the telescope is not unusual, it is a 12-inch, F6.0 Newtonian on a German equatorial mount, its unique construction makes it one of a kind. On the one hand, it is enormously heavy and overbuilt, with its optical tube assembly for example, made of solid steel and rivets - evoking images of World War II battleships. On the other hand, its multitude of components were machined to the most precise level of accuracy, with unsurpassed craftsmanship and attention to detail.

One of the most striking features of all, is the one that isn't there - not a single manufacturers' name is engraved on a single one of the telescope's over 200 individual parts. The telescope, it would seem, was constructed entirely of custom-machined pieces. As a professional instrument in its day, its optical and mechanical accuracy rivals the best telescopes currently being made. Mechanically, it employed a mechanism to track astronomical targets in right ascension that was driven by a small motor regulated by a series of falling weights and a swinging pendulum, much like a grandfather clock. When decommissioned in 1988, the tracking was found to lose only 1 second per month of continual tracking. It was this kind of original clock-regulated tracking mechanism that gave rise to the name of right ascension motors still used on telescopes to this day, and although regulated with electronic circuitry, they are still called - clock drives.

Optical accuracy also rivals the best current telescopes. Optical testing in 2005 revealed the 12-inch primary mirror to be accurate to within 1/12th the width of a wave of light.

Photos of the Watson Scope Before Restoration
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Restoration

In its original home the telescope was covered by black paint, in an effort to minimize reflections of stray light. Unfortunately, this masked its many beautiful surfaces, including extensive brass, and even some copper. After the telescope was disassembled in 1988, BAS members removed the black paint from the individual pieces and painted all non-brass surfaces a light blue. In 2005, HAL members completed the restoration process and reassembled the telescope. Unfortunately, the original clock mechanism could not be restored. Currently, HAL is evaluating different drive systems available that could be installed on the right ascension and declination drive shafts, thereby not only providing a means to track astronomical objects in right ascension, but also adding go-to capability.

Watson Scope Restoration Photos:
July 23, 2005 Session
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August 20, 2005 Session
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November 20, 2005 Session
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Public Debut

t is our hope that this stunning example of beauty, engineering and craftsmanship from a long-gone era will soon have a home and for the first time ever, be shared with the public. That has been the goal of the dozens of amateur astronomers who have labored on the project over these last 18 years.

Watson Antique Telescope Restoration

Photos of the Watson Scope Before Restoration Click for larger images, then use Brower's Back button to return to this page

Restoration