A Large reflector for Liverpool
I came across this very short article, I don't know if this refers to the orginal Liverpool Observatory.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Saturday 17th June 1837
A reflecting telescope of very large dimensions has just arrived from Scotland for the Liverpool Observatory, Mount Gardens. It will be ready for use by the public in a very few weeks when the observatory will be opened.
Rev. T E Espin and Nova Lacerta 1910
The Rev T E Espin a founder of the Liverpool Astronomical Society discovered Nova Lacerta on December 30th 1910. At maximum it reached a magnitude of 4.6. In the following month it would decline by around 3 magnitudes.
Nova Lacerta 1910 now has the variable star designation of DI Lacerta.
Isaac Roberts and the Andromeda Nebula
Born near Denbigh in North Wales in 1829, Isaac Roberts would spend most of his life in the Liverpool area. Although born into a poor family he made his wealth through the building trade which allowed to indulge on his passion for astronomy and in particular astronomical photography. He was a member of the Liverpool Astronomical Society.
Roberts lived in Maghull near Liverpool where he built an observatory which housed a 20 inch reflector and a 7 inch Refractor together with a 5 inch Cooke camera. Isaac Roberts would go on to produce some stunning photographs, in particular there were two lavishly produced star atlases published between 1893 and 1899.
The 20 inch was ordered from Howard Grubb in 1885 but at first there were problems with the instrument, after attention to the telescope it was returned to Roberts in early 1888.
It was on December 29th 1888 that Roberts took a famous photograph of the Andromeda Nebula or Messier 31. Today the Andromeda Nebula is the Andromeda Galaxy. The photograph was so stunning that Sir Robert Ball reproduced the photograph in his book The Story of the Heavens. The photograph had an exposure time of 4 hours.
Isaac Roberts decided to leave Maghull in 1890 for the cleaner air of Crowborough in Sussex. He continued his astronomical work from there. Isaac Roberts died here inn 1904.
The Astronomy Show
Join me, Martin Lunn tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the Astronomy Show, I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the A-Z of Constellations and the Messier Marathon.
The Astronomy Show every Monday evening only on Drystone Radio 102 and 103.5 FM the show can be heard live on line at www.drystoneradio.com and the show can be heard later on the Drystone Radio Podcast.
Accident at the Cooke works
On December 28th 1866 the son of Mr W Tindall printer of Fulford Road, York an apprentice with Messrs Cooke and Sons Opticians, of this city, lost his right thumb which was taken completely off by a portion of the machinery on the works, whilst he was engaged in his ordinary occupation.
Dominic Cummings, Barnard Castle and a Cooke
York Herald Saturday 20th January 1875
The New Chiming Clock at Barnard Castle.
The new turret clock, presented to the town by Mr. W. Watson, of Spring Lodge, has just been placed in the tower of St. Mary's church by the makers, Messrs. T. Cooke and Sons, Buckingham Works, York. The clock, which is put together on a principle first used by the constructors of this clock, is arranged with a train remontoire and gravity escapement, the special advantage of which is that any amount of weight can be applied to the main clock train to resist the force of wind or friction on the hands, and it will, not affect the escapement in the slightest. The weight of the clock is about two tons. The dials are fixed on the north, south, and west sides of the tower, and are five feet in diameter, painted ultramarine blue, with gilt figures and hands. The clock chimes every quarter. Yesterday, after many years silence, the curfew-bell was again heard, and will be continued according to old custom.
Is it possible that Dominic Cummings wanted to see this splendid example of a Cooke clock?
Exhibition of the Phonograph in York
At this time of year Christmas music is being played everywhere, but the first phonograph or record player as it would become known was not invented until 1877 by Thomas Edison.
On the 17th December 1878 the first phonograph to be seen in York was exhibited at the Kenrick Rooms, Spen Lane I York by Messrs T Cooke and Sons. Permission had been obtained by Cooke and Sons from the London Stereoscopic Company who had purchased the British patent from Mr Thomas Edison the inventor.
The phonograph was explained by Mr Cox-Walker of Cooke and Sons. Briefly the phonograph consists of a brass cylinder, around which turns a spiral grove. The operator speaks into a mouthpiece upon a thin diaphragm, exactly like a telephone, to which a metal point is attached. The cylinder is covered with tin foil, and the point being in connection, and the handle turned while the operator is speaking, the point runs in the groove and makes a number of indentations in the tin foil corresponding to the vibrations of the diaphragm caused by the voice. On turning the reverse way the sounds are reproduced, the indentations in the tin foil, acting upon the metal point, causing the diaphragm to vibrate and communicate its motion to the air.
The singing is very distinct but the reproduced words of a speaker are somewhat thick, though the result is marvellous in the extreme. Two instruments were exhibited, one working by clock work and the other by hand. By the former the tone is reproduced more correctly, owing to the greater regularity in the turning of the instrument.
