Montclair University Observatory at School of Conservation

Delmhorst Memorial Observatory
Monclair University School of Conservation
Near Stokes Forest, Sussex County, NJ

Notes: The Delmhorst Memorial Observatory was dedicated in 1979. The 5-inch refractor was donated to the SOC in 1971 by the widow of William Delmhorst from Morristown, NJ. It is documented to have been an "1883 hand ground telescope". The 6-inch refractor was donated in 1974 by Patricia Butch of New Brunswick, NJ. The two refractors are in disrepair. The 6-inch RA is gummed solid. Both instruments have been modified with various home built misc. (counter weights, finders, etc.) - Report and webpage: Barry Malpas, UACNJ Observatory at Jenny Jump

Photographs (taken 11/2000):

Fecker 6-Inch Refractor (approx. 5.5" c.a., approx. 80" f.l.) - This instrument has obvious Fecker identification on the objective (picture 18). The tube is cylindrical and appears to be a yellowish anodized aluminum (picture 4).

1. The observatory (double shuttered roof)
2. Dr. Marylou West measuring objective (Montclair U. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy)
3-6. Objective views
7-10. Eyepiece end views (adapted rack and pinion - Edmund, Japanese .967" eyepiece)
11-15. Views of mount (15 shows spring loaded setting circle?)
16-17. Overall views
18. Identification on Objective ("J.W.FECKER INC. PITTSBURGH 1948.")
19. Crude identification on pier (Hans Pfleumer)

5-Inch Refractor (approx. 4-5/8" c.a., approx. 74" f.l.) - This instrument, although working, is strapped in with rope and duct tape (pictures 30 & 34) because the metal straps have broken. The tube is conical, not cylindrical, and made of, what appears to be, gray painted galvanized sheet steel, although no seam was observed (pictures 21 & 24). There were no external identification markings. The objective mounting appears to be in a similar design as the Fecker mounting, but much older (pictures 23-24).