May 14th, 1835.

Relics of Holcomb, Fitz, and Peate in the Smithsonian Institution

(United States National Museum catalog number shown at right)

Amasa Holcomb

(All items from Mrs. Grace E. Holcomb Steere and Mrs. Eva C. Holcomb Storey)

1.Undated and unsigned original autobiographical sketch, ink on notepaper (as published here, [p. 160])
2.Manuscript notebook on meteorological and astronomical matters, covering the period 1834-41.310600
3.Herschelean reflecting telescope, 8½-inch aperture, 9 feet 4 inches long. This is the telescope made by Holcomb and shown at the Franklin Institute in 1835.310598
4.Refracting telescope, 1½-inch aperture, 21 inches long, on 14-inch axis for use as a transit telescope, without support.310599

Henry Fitz, Jr.

(Item 1 from Mr. L. C. Eichner, items 2-4 from Mrs. Julia Fitz Howell, item 5 from Mr. Arthur V. A. Fitz)

1.Refracting telescope, comet seeker, 8¼-inch aperture, 61-inch wooden tube, fitted for equatorial mounting, but without mount.317027
2.Machines, tools, and partially completed instruments from the shop of Henry Fitz, of which the major pieces are:
Lens grinding machine315152
Lens polishing machine315153
Lens edging and testing machine315151
3.Manuscript notebook of Fitz accounts from 1851 to 1855.317026(2)
4.Manuscript “Catalogue of Objectives made by Henry Fitz.”317026(2)
5.Refracting telescope, 5-section draw, marked “Ta. Long, Royal Exchange, London,” 2⅛-inch objective, 42½ inches long, open. Purchased in London by Fitz in 1839. The present objective was made by Fitz.316706

John Peate