Thus arranged the mount is a very serviceable one for small
instruments. Its stability, however, depends on the base upon which
it is set. The writer once unwisely attempted to gain convenience by
removing the legs of the stand and screwing its body firmly upon a very
substantial tripod. The result was a complete failure in steadiness,
owing to the rather long lever arm furnished by the height of the
pillar; and the instrument, which had been admirably steady originally,
vibrated abominably when touched for focussing.
The particular stand here shown is furnished with a rack motion in
altitude which is a considerable convenience in following. More
rarely adjustable steadying rods attached to the objective end of the
instrument are brought down to its base, but for a telescope large
enough to require this a better mount is generally desirable.
Now and then an alt-azimuth head of just the sort used in the
pillar-and-claw stand is actually fitted on a tall tripod, but such an
arrangement is usually found only in cheap instruments and for such
tripod mountings other fittings are desirable.
[Illustration: FIG. 70.—Alt-azimuth Mount, Clark Type T.]
The second form of alt-azimuth mount, is altogether of more substantial
construction. The vertical axis, usually tapered and carefully ground
in its bearings, carries an oblique fork in which the telescope tube is
carried on trunnions for its vertical motion. The inclination of the
forked head enables the telescope to be pointed directly toward the
zenith and the whole mount forms the head of a well made tripod.
Figure 70 shows an excellent type of this form of mount as used
for the Clark Type T telescope, designed for both terrestrial and
astronomical observation. In this particular arrangement the telescope
lies in an aluminum cradle carried on the trunnions, from which it can
be readily removed by loosening the thumb screws and opening the cradle.
[Illustration: FIG. 71.—Alt-azimuth with Full Slow Motions.]
It can also be set longitudinally for balance in the cradle if any
attachments are to be placed upon either end. Here the adjustment for
the height of the instrument is provided both in the spread of the
tripod and in the adjustable legs. So mounted a telescope of 3 or 4
inches aperture is easily handled and capable of rendering very good
service either for terrestrial or celestial work.
Indeed the Clarks have made instruments up to 6 inches aperture,
mounted for special service in this simple manner. For celestial use
where fairly high powers may be required this or any similar mount can
be readily furnished with slow motions either in azimuth or altitude or
both.
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