Yes, the mystery object does suggest a telescope. I
would recommend that you check with Peter Abrahams of
the Antique Telescope Society. He should be able to
help you:

"Abrahams, Peter" < [log in to unmask] > 

gaw


--- Vanya Scott <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Date:         Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:15:23 -0400
> From:         Vanya Scott <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Mystery Artifact
> To:           [log in to unmask]
> 
> Greetings:
> 
> I have a mystery artifact that I hope one of you
> fine museum people can help 
> me identify. Please follow this link to view a
> photo:
> 
> ftp.dri.edu/pub/museum/photos/mysteryartifact
> 
> This item reminds me of a telescope; it stands about
> 3 feet tall, and has a 
> brass barrel with a converted flashlight body as an
> apparent power source 
> strapped to the support frame below the brass
> barrel. At the upper end of the 
> barrel is a glass lens, although there is no lens
> where the "eye piece" would 
> be. 
> 
> It was found near the old Camp Desert Rock air strip
> on the Nevada Test Site 
> by a man who worked there as a weather technician.
> He found it in the early 
> 1970s, and kept it in his garage all these years.
> 
> Is this possibly a surveying or tracking instrument
> of some sort? The 
> construction is possibly 1950s or 60s. Would it have
> been used at the Nevada 
> Test Site? 
> 
> Thanks for any input you can give me. If you like, I
> can send more photos of 
> the item.
> 
> Regards, Vanya
> 
> Vanya Scott, Registrar
> Atomic Testing Museum
> 755 E. Flamingo Road
> Las Vegas, NV  89119-7363
> 702-794-5142 (voice)
> 702-794-5155 (fax)

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
NEWS - Astronomy, Space, Science:
< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://www.planetarium.cc > 
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago: 
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear: 
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com > 
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
  < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://www.incline.cc >

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).