Albert R.J.F. Hassard (1873–1940), A.R., B.C.L.; Toronto member, lawyer, and very active ATM.
Lived at 9 North Street, Toronto. Worked in the firm of Earngey & Hassard at the Confederation Life Building.
...it should be observed that my work is all of a very amateur nature, and any success I have had has been often after many failures.ª
—English Mechanic and World of Science, No. 2289, Feb. 5, 1909.
A Telescope Menagerie¹
Enclosed is a photograph showing my telescopes. There are a 2in. and a 4in. refractor, and a 6in. and a 15in. reflector, mounted, while standing erect is the tube of the 9½in. reflector, which I also use. The view shows my father standing looking through the 4in. refractor.
—English Mechanic and World of Science, No. 2322, 1909 Sept. 24.
The 9½-inch Reflector²
...here is a photograph of my 9½in. telescope, nearly all made by myself, and with the simplest tools.
—English Mechanic and World of Science, No. 2281, Dec. 11, 1908.
I am making a 9½ inch reflector, which is now nearly completed. On the 8th of August, 1908, while testing the instrument I turned the still unsoldered glass upon the Moon, and could observe with powers of 100 and 200, details distinctly visible on its surface. I used power of 400 also, but the illumination was much reduced. Still even with it, detail was distinct. When one remembers that only about 2 per cent of the light falling on an unsoldered glass surface is reflected, the result seems encouraging. The focal length of the mirror is 80 inches, and I have done all the work connected with its construction and almost all the making of the mounting and tube myself during spare moments taken from a professional life.
—Popular Astronomy, Vol.16, 1908, p.456.
The 15-inch Reflector³
...The total cost of my 15in. mirror, tube, and mountings is about 30s.
The light-gathering power of this instrument is wonderful. The moon and Jupiter are almost inconceivably wonderful sights. The instrument is considerably more difficult to manage than a 6in. reflector, but is a most useful addition to the observatory. It seems to me that not much advantage is gained by an amateur observer in proceeding beyond a 15in. aperture. That aperture can keep him busy the rest of his life.
—English Mechanic and World of Science, 1909 June 18. (This article also gives a description of the construction of the mounting for this telescope.)
Notes
ª Hassard Correspondence 1908-10, p.218
¹ Hassard Correspondence 1908-10, p.226
² Hassard Correspondence 1908-10, p.214
³ Hassard Correspondence 1908-10, p.225
Further Reading
- Articles in Popular Astronomy (1908–09)
- Articles in JRASC (1917–1929)
Related Items in the RASC Archives
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