5th Mid-Atlantic Mirror Making Seminar
The Fifth MidAtlantic Mirror Makers Weekend
is history! Mirror makers and Star Gazers gathered at the St Jones
Reserve just south of Dover and spent Friday-Sunday,
March 4-6, grinding, polishing and figuring their mirrors.
There were several 8 and 10 inch mirrors, one 12.5" and 3 sets of Shiefspieglers. All the "non Shiefspiegler" mirrors were successfully completed. Those Shiefspiegler guys were very determined and I remember the excited yell of at least one who finally "saw parallel lines"! Bill Cheng brought his completed shief and it yielded some excellent views of Saturn Saturday night.
Many thanks to Jerry Truitt, Bill Hannagan, and Dave Groski for organizing the event and working to ensure it's success.
Our excellent food service was provided by Karen Surles and Kathy Sheldon - in spite of the extremely small kitchen. The Saturday afternoon fish fry may become a regular at future MMM's. Nothing like a tummy full of southern fried fish and hushpuppies to make the figuring more successful.
Steve Swayze, from Swayze Optical, provided his usual very patient guiding expertise throughout the polishing/figuring stages allowing each mirror maker to take home a fine quality newtonian mirror. I am sure each mirror will be treasured for many years.
Bill Hannagan really did a fine job from his introduction to mirror making, throughout fine grinding, polishing, and figuring stages. He was continually going from stand to stand checking the progress of each mirror. Thanks for being so patient, Bill.
St Jones Reserve proved to be a nice facility and many asked if we can hold MMM#6 there vs Mallard Lodge.
An added treat on Saturday was provided by Dover Air Force Base. A pair of C-5's were practicing touch and go's and used the airspace over our building for turns. They offered us quite a view of the underside of a C-5...with wheels down!
Another treat was provided by Star Gazer and C-5 Maintenance TSgt Leonard White...he provided an in the hanger guided tour of a C-5 (inside, underside, and topside)! Thanks, Leonard.
So, it is now time to think about the next mirror making weekend. Think 16" er's!
Don Surles, President, Delmarva Star Gazers
There were several 8 and 10 inch mirrors, one 12.5" and 3 sets of Shiefspieglers. All the "non Shiefspiegler" mirrors were successfully completed. Those Shiefspiegler guys were very determined and I remember the excited yell of at least one who finally "saw parallel lines"! Bill Cheng brought his completed shief and it yielded some excellent views of Saturn Saturday night.
Many thanks to Jerry Truitt, Bill Hannagan, and Dave Groski for organizing the event and working to ensure it's success.
Our excellent food service was provided by Karen Surles and Kathy Sheldon - in spite of the extremely small kitchen. The Saturday afternoon fish fry may become a regular at future MMM's. Nothing like a tummy full of southern fried fish and hushpuppies to make the figuring more successful.
Steve Swayze, from Swayze Optical, provided his usual very patient guiding expertise throughout the polishing/figuring stages allowing each mirror maker to take home a fine quality newtonian mirror. I am sure each mirror will be treasured for many years.
Bill Hannagan really did a fine job from his introduction to mirror making, throughout fine grinding, polishing, and figuring stages. He was continually going from stand to stand checking the progress of each mirror. Thanks for being so patient, Bill.
St Jones Reserve proved to be a nice facility and many asked if we can hold MMM#6 there vs Mallard Lodge.
An added treat on Saturday was provided by Dover Air Force Base. A pair of C-5's were practicing touch and go's and used the airspace over our building for turns. They offered us quite a view of the underside of a C-5...with wheels down!
Another treat was provided by Star Gazer and C-5 Maintenance TSgt Leonard White...he provided an in the hanger guided tour of a C-5 (inside, underside, and topside)! Thanks, Leonard.
So, it is now time to think about the next mirror making weekend. Think 16" er's!
Don Surles, President, Delmarva Star Gazers