13-inch Fitz-Clark Refractor
In 1840 Henry Fitz began manufacturing refractors. He made two 13" telescopes, one for the Allegheny Observatory in 1861, still in service, and one for Dudley Observatory, Albany, New York. The Dudley telescope went into private hands, around the turn of the century. Research, led by Jim Zebrowski, indicates this to be the former Fitz from Dudley Observatory - 12.5 focal ratio, thin glass w/ thin air-spacing, brass cell & adjoining countercell similar to Allegheney's. The Fitz-Clark went to Stellafane in 1996, where Joe Zuraw's Massive Transportable Temporary Mount won a prize for mechanical design.
The 19th century saw the emergence of American Science and Technology. Amasa Holcomb set up North America's first commercial telescope manufacturing operation in 1830; in the 1840's Henry Fitz began manufacturing refractors that could compete with any; by the end of the century Alvan Clark had became the pre-eminent telescope maker in the world. By coincidence, all 3 men were born in Massachusetts. Henry Fitz was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on December 31,1808. In 1819 the family moved to Albany, New York and later to New York City. Young Henry learned the printing trade from his father, together they printed the Religious weekly, "The Gospel Herald". Fitz enjoyed tinkering with the machinery in the shop. In his 19th year Henry moved on to a new line of work becoming a locksmith. He enjoyed many hobbies, especially astronomy. By the 1840's, Fitz had turned his hobby into a successful business building small refractor telescopes. As his skills and reputation grew, Fitz received commissions to build larger and larger telescopes for leading American universities and institutions. Among his larger telescopes were two 13" telescopes, one made for the Allegheny Observatory in 1861 that is still in service, and one for the Dudley Observatory in Albany, New York. The Dudley telescope went into private hands around the turn of the century, and fell into obscurity. In late 1994, Arunah Hill's board of directors was approached about becoming the custodians of a long forgotten but fine 13" refractor objective. A rusty old metal tube was cleaned up and a massive plywood mounting was fabricated for star testing. The testing proved the lens worthy of more effort. The mystery of the history of the lens piqued the curiosity of several AH members, led by Jim Zebrowski. Several phone calls and emails produced a likely candidate: the long lost Fitz from the Dudley Observatory! Further research strongly suggests this lens to be the Dudley Fitz: A focal ration of f/12.5 "thin glass", with postage card air spacing, a brass cell and adjoining countercell consistent with the twin at Allegheny. Today the Fitz 13" is set up for major Arunah Hill events. It even made a special journey to Stellafane in 1996, where Joe Zuraw's "Massive Yet Transportable Temporary Mount" won a prize for mechanical design. Future plans call for the Fitz telescope to be placed on a permanent equatorial mounting in a "rollaway" Quonset Hut on the summit of Arunah Hill. More Information About The Fitz-Clark Refractor ”The Fitz Daguerroeotype”
by Jim Zebrowski ”Stellafane ‘96 And The Fitz Refractor” by Ed Faits |
2/26/2005
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