1020

A Carroll refracting telescope

1958
Marked: Carroll / Astronomical Insts. / Made by Geo. Carroll / Tujunga CAL. / 1953
Objective: 6" diameter lens, F-15, approximately 2300 mm., marked: Carroll / Tujunga / Cal. / 1958
Optical tube assembly: Aluminum with textured and faded green enamel finish; including spotting scope with mount, rack and pinion focuser; signed "Carroll" in several places; machined aluminum and brass; approximately 96" L, includes eyepieces
Equatorial mount/tripod: Machined and cast aluminum finished in faded blue enamel, wheels for right ascension and declination, motorized in both axes, counter-weight, cast and machined aluminum tripod head with wooden legs
Overall: 112" H x 45" W approximately

  • Provenance: The collection of the maker
    Thence by decent to present owner
  • Notes: George A. Carroll was chief instrument engineer of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. His line of Carroll telescopes was backed by his radiant reputation as a skilled designer of precision instruments. Carroll's passion for astronomy extended beyond his work and into his personal life as evident by the many specialized groups that he belonged to. He was a member of the Association of the Lunar and Planetary Observers, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the British Astronomical Society. In 1953 Carroll was president of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS) which is one of the oldest and largest amateur astronomical societies in the United States.

    His most notable membership is as one of fifteen founding members of Stony Ridge Observatory located in the heart of the breathtaking Angeles National Forest. Carroll was the designer and principal builder of the 30-inch telescope (0.76-m Cassegrain/Newtonian reflector) made specifically for Stony Ridge Observatory. It was the largest telescope he had ever built and was responsible for the discovery of an asteroid in March of 2004 by Stony Ridge which they in turn named after him (144633 Georgecarroll).

    He also contributed telescopes and precision instruments to several educational organizations. Ruth Kerr was the founder of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. George Carroll and Kerr attended the same church, and it was at one of their social gatherings that Carroll approached her with a proposition. He would design and construct not one, but two telescopes for Westmont College if she could ensure that a building would be constructed to accommodate them. Kerr accepted and George Carroll was honored with a key at the dedication of the Westmont Observatory in the summer of 1957.

    The 1958 Carroll Refracting Telescope is an outstanding example of 1950s technology, and it was entrusted to Moran's directly from the Carroll family. We are excited to give collectors this once in a blue moon opportunity to be linked to Carroll's legacy and the ability to gaze into the heavens with intimate accuracy.
  • Condition: Overall good condition. Light oxidation to brass finishes. Wear to the electrical cord. Minor surface abrasions, scratches, and scuffs throughout. Motorized functions non-operational. Wiring should be checked by a qualified electrician prior to use.

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April 28, 2021 12:00 PM PDT
Monrovia, CA, US

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