Salt Lake Telegram | 1929-03-01 | Page 3 | Wealthy Ex-Manufacturer Grinds Astronomy Mirror for University

Wealthy Ex Man t Astronomy MIrror for University S'S i. i S S SS S rS rSS'S i r g w 4 a S t William Pitt shown shown pee peering in through des desk tele telescope cope at surface of an astronomical mirror he IS grinding for the University of Kansas Of I SAS IL CITY AP William Pitt wealthy retired manufacturer has turned the swimming pool of It his home int into a a.- a. laboratory to grind an astronomical mirror for the University University Uni- Uni of I Kansas r sas Furthermore b he has done the grinding himself and a d with a ame me chino chinG of his own deSign Por POl nearly nearh near near- ly h a year Mr Pitt has work d dally at a a job which is amon among the most delicate and exacting in existence I IThe The mirror ly is of glass 27 inches in diameter and four thick one of which must be he ut parabolic par c form Now in the last stage ot of the grinding lr Pitt is I using mugs for an abras abrasive to get the surface true to the tho last two two- millionths of an inch In addition to this exceedingly exact shape the grinder ot of the mh must be careful every minute not to overheat the glass How well he has succeeded eded is told ii a aletter letter from ProfeSsor DInsmore Alter Alter Al- Al shame ter of the K F. F U U. department of astronomy as- as to the Corning Glass works which supplied the special mirror Professor A Alter ter says that after afler each 1 grinding a polarIzed light test has revealed that the tho glass remained free from internal strains which the h heat lt of grinding ml might ht produce The is intended for study tu of a roid which are 11 th t Ii of phi inri will hr hI nest only by a tr 1 hut J tir of W tl of sass sas It will twill be one of the largest I in the middle we-st. we Pitts Pitt's sell self work saves the university ty moro thin than I