Friday April 6, 1894

M^r Sewith from Controller’s Depart^t inspected electric light installation. M^r E.E. Putland from Messrs Johnson & Phillips was present.Received model of proposed 26ⁱⁿ Photo-telescope from Sir H. Grubb.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

RH says..... The Controller's Department was part of the Admiralty, which administered the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. They were evidently required to check all work done on the Admiralty's budget. The firm of Johnson & Phillips, as you will see if you click on the link above, still exists, although now based in Pakistan. The firm supplied and laid cable for Trans-Atlanic communication, as you will see from this site - which also includes biographies of the firm's founding partners.

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The accompanying image shows the completed 26-inch telescope, alongside the 30-inch that Sir Henry Thompson also donated. They were mounted together in the dome of the New Physical Observatory in 1897.