Ralph Schlegel

mrgare5050
Optical projector

Posts: 321

Ralph Schlegel Aug 18, 2023 5:55:40 GMT -7 scotttucker likes this

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Post by mrgare5050 on Aug 18, 2023 5:55:40 GMT -7

(OK, I found it right where I thought it was (that's a first). The builder is Mr. Ralph Schlegel)

Wow Sir Walker, you scooped the History board with this hybrid, I don't even think that Daniel Audion guy had this one listed, although he's put out several versions of his database which has me confused so I may have missed it. Linda Jacobson didnt even find any newspaper clippings on this either, which is weird for a project the guy worked on for 10 years! I'm again curious, how did you know about him, what was your source? I thought maybe it was from the original OC, which would be promising if there are more such stories out there.

Ron Walker
Administrator

Posts: 2,790

Ralph Schlegel Aug 18, 2023 10:43:34 GMT -7

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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 18, 2023 10:43:34 GMT -7

It was in an article from an old Sky & Telescope magazine. It was one of my favorite issues as it had the most adds for planetarium projectors (with pictures) then any other issue I had. The cover got all crinkly from all the drooling I did over it. I do believe it was listed in the original OC and I know that second picture holding the arc lamp was added by you I think.

mrgare5050 Optical projector Posts: 321	Ralph Schlegel Feb 9, 2024 10:39:49 GMT -7 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mrgare5050 on Feb 9, 2024 10:39:49 GMT -7 I DID find a 1984 newspaper article that mentions Ralph Schegel as the builder of a home planetarium, I missed him on my recent master list and have now added him.

Ron Walker
Administrator

Posts: 2,790

Ralph Schlegel Feb 9, 2024 11:01:25 GMT -7

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Post by Ron Walker on Feb 9, 2024 11:01:25 GMT -7

I was very impressed with this machine and wondered how he built it, especially how he made the center with the built in 23 1/2 degree tilt. Then I read that Spitz was a member of that astronomy club and it all came together. The Spitz model "C" was a miniature copy of the model "B" and only one was built. However with the engineering drawings all existing, it would have been easy to make another central core. The star globes and arc lamp illumination also appear to be copies of the Spitz "C" design. It is hard to tell from the pictures how the planet projectors are driven so this is probably where time was spent in the design and building. The original "B" used timing belts which work extremely well as I can attest to in my rebuilding of my A3P. I'm sure Mr. Schegel got a lot of help from Mr. Spitz.

Post by mrgare5050 on Aug 18, 2023 5:55:40 GMT -7

Post by Ron Walker on Aug 18, 2023 10:43:34 GMT -7

Post by mrgare5050 on Feb 9, 2024 10:39:49 GMT -7

Post by Ron Walker on Feb 9, 2024 11:01:25 GMT -7

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