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).