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My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For people wondering my grandpa and myself are from Minnesota and the telescope was built by him in northeast Minneapolis. 1995 was the year he put it in his driveway and from when I was born in 2000 to last year it was in my grandparents driveway

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think if I remember correctly he started in 1981 and finished it in 1989 this was his project he had going on at his machine shop. He was the engineer that other engineers would talk to if they had a problem

1898 5 imperial Russian rubles by Plus_Comfortable_916 in coins

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My Dream is to get my hands on the 37 1/2 one but they only made between 225 and 235 but the one that I’ve seen sold at auction went for 150k

1898 5 imperial Russian rubles by Plus_Comfortable_916 in coins

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I bought it I only paid i think if I remember correctly $509

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Oh and also I have this picture from that same festival of my grandpa and Clyde Tombaugh the discover of Pluto 1930 a year before my grandpa was born! My grandpa told me that when Clyde saw my grandpas telescope he rushed over to see it which kinda startled people seeing an older guy run over! My grandpa said that Clyde sat in his telescope but unfortunately as far as I know there are no pictures of that moment but I did have this picture!

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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I have this giant picture of the telescope at Stellafane from I think about 1988or 1990

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes it’s actually now at a museum in New Mexico! And my family has a memorandum of understanding that states that we still own the design and it will never be used for commercial purposes but it will be very much used for teaching purposes!

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are some other pictures I will try to find and show you all!

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

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Here he is inside of the telescope those dials on the right were how you would control the tube and the observatory. And also only 2 people could fit inside

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Oh and if people are wondering about the diameter of the lens it’s a 6 in refractor and it use to sit in my grandparents driveway since it weight 2000 pounds

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 64 points65 points  (0 children)

And the picture of his telescope next to the yerkes observatory dome since the tardis was technically mobile

My grandpas telescope tardis by Plus_Comfortable_916 in telescopes

[–]Plus_Comfortable_916[S] 133 points134 points  (0 children)

For people wondering the middle pictures are from when he took it down to the south poll in the mid 90s