Saturday December 28, 1894

Discussed with Sir H. Grubb's draughtsman arrangements for new shutter to Astrographic Dome, new Altaz. Dome & base of 26in Photo-Telescope.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Friday December 28, 1894

Returned to the Observatory in the afternoon and saw Sir H. Grubb's draughtsman about shutter of Astrographic Dome, blown off in gale of Dec. 22. Gave M^r Jordan Super^t of the Park two litho' plans of Obs^y showing new Physical Obs^y.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Monday December 9, 1894

Went to Troughton & Simms about Astrographic micrometer, Posⁿ mic. of 28in telescope, new Altazimuth &c. M^r Simms gave me a specimen of Mantics’[?] ordinary dense flint (very transparent) for new photo-spectroscope.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Tuesday November 20, 1894

Three wires of Altazimuth reported broken by M^r Bryant. The plate holding them was sent to Mess^rs Troughton & Simms.

The position wires of the 28ⁱⁿ Micrometer reported broken, by M^r Lewis. M^r Niblett told to repair them.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

Monday November 5, 1894

Mr J. Raymond Smith Sculptor called to arrange about bust of Flamsteed for N. wing of Physical Observatory and took away ivory medallion & engraved portrait of Flamsteed on loan.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Rate of S.S. altered.
Reversion-Prism eyepiece, which had been broken sent to Mess^rs Troughton & Simms.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

RH says..... This image shows the medallion of Flamsteed that Christie sent the sculptor for reference, although the scultpure on the Physical Observatory probably owes more to the engraving, which can be see in this post. The completed bust can still be seen above the entrance of the Observatory's South Building today.

Tuesday October 30, 1894

Discussed with M^r Skinner (from Mess^rs Troughton & Simms) plans for new Astrographic micrometer and for Photographic spectroscope.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... On another topic, Graham Dolan has kindly send me an image of the Great Equatorial Building's balcony under construction - see entry for 19 October. He tells me that this picture can be dated to the summer of 1898, so it seems that it took some time to do the work. It is always interesting to see in these old images that, although the Observatory was closed to the public, it was still a sight for visitors to Greenwich Park - even if they were chiefly there for the view down to the river that the people on the benches at the right of the picture are enjoying.

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Friday October 19, 1894

M^r Crisp & M^r Loughborough with M^r Awdry discussed the above. Also discussed, with M^r Crisp proposed Magnetic Pavilion in the Park and balcony below 36^ft Dome.

Discussed with M^r Simms plans for new Astrographic micrometer & Photographic spectroscope.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... The 36-foot dome was the new onion-shaped dome that accommodated the larger 28-inch telescope instead of the Great Equatorial telescope that the building had originally contained. This postcard clearly shows the balcony that Christie discussed today.

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The Magnetic House at this time was still where it had been since the 1840s - in the south part of the Royal Observatory's site, but north of the New Physical Observatory. This area today is covered by the dome of the Peter Harrison Planetarium. Despite Christie performing apparently satisfactory experiments to test the effect of ironwork in the new buildings on the magnetic observations, it had obviously become clear that the would have to be performed away from the main site. The picture below shows the new Magnetic Pavilion, built in 1899, in the area of Greenwich Park that became known as the Christie Enclosure. This area, 350 yards east from the main site, once held several telescope domes, including that of the Yapp 36-inch telescope, as well as the Magnetic Pavilion and Magnetograph House. It was all dismantled and returned to the Park when the Observatory moved to Herstmonceux and the Greenwich site became part of the National Maritime Museum.

Friday October 12, 1894

Sir H. Grubb discussed plans of 26ⁱⁿ Photo-Equatorial & specification for new Altaz dome.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Tuesday October 9, 1894

Received a positive & negative eyepiece for 28 Inch ordered July 24 from Mess^rs Troughton & Simms.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

Thursday October 4, 1894

Went to Troughton & Simms about new Astrographic micrometer & new spectroscope. Found nothing had been done in preparing working drawings.
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William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Diaphragm of the Astrographic Micrometer sent to Troughton & Simms to be rouged, as the divisions were very difficult to see against the photographs.

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Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

Monday September 24, 1894

Went to Troughton & Simms with M^r Dyson and arranged with M^r Simms for a new Astrographic micrometer for measuring two plates at same time and for a Photographic spectroscope. Also gave M^r Simms a paper for positions of stops in new altazimuth to give a series of adopted azimuths.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Went with the Astronomer Royal to Troughton & Simms’ works. M^r Simms & the Astronomer Royal discussed photographic spectroscope especially the kinds of glass obtainable, & the Micrometer for the Astrographic measures.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

Thursday September 13, 1894

Saw Director of Works at Admiralty & M^r Crisp about new buildings. Received from M^r Simms small reflecting prism for spectroscope on 28ⁱⁿ telescope.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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Half-inch prism for spectroscope of 28 Inch arrived from Troughton & Simms.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

Wednesday September 12, 1894

Went to Troughton and Simms’ about alteration of microscope of Astrographic micrometers & Posⁿ microm. of 28ⁱⁿ telescope. Saw the new Astrographic micrometer made for Prof. Turner.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... Christie is straight back to business after his long holiday. It is nice to see his interest in the instrumentation ordered by Turner, his former Chief Assistant, in his new role as director of the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford.

Friday August 31, 1894

Micrometer for measuring Stellar Photographs returned from Troughton & Simms.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

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RH says..... From its placement in the journal it looks as if this entry was made retrospectively, perhaps when the boss came back from his holiday?

Tuesday August 21, 1894

A man called from Mess^rs Troughton & Simms about the Position of the 28 Inch Micrometer. I shewed him the method of illumination used in the Astrographic Telescope. He had been unable to obtain a dark field and illuminated wires in the way suggested by the Astronomer Royal, and wished to use some prisms to reflect the light. M^r Lewis & I discussed the matter with him and agreed that M^r Simms should do it as he liked & alter it subsequently, if necessary.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

Monday August 20, 1894

M^r Crisp called wanting to know whether Cooke’s tender for removing & remounting Lassell dome included the race. I shewed him the papers on the subject, but we found no definite statement whether this was included in the term “dome”. He explained that he intended to insert words like “including the race” in accepting the tender.

Frank Dyson, Chief Assistant

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RH says..... I am not sure what the "race" of the dome is, and may well have mis-read it. All suggestions welcome!

Saturday August 4, 1894

Sir Howard Grubb discussed mounting of 26ⁱⁿ Thompson photo-equatorial. It was arranged that the 30ⁱⁿ reflector should be mounted on other end of decⁿ axis with its axis 6^ft from centre.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... These telescopes were the ones being paid for by Sir Henry Thompson to be mounted in the re-sited Lassell dome atop the New Physical Observatory. The 30-inch has now evidentally entered the equation, and the scheme has come a long way since Christie referred to the "proposed" 26-inch telescope back in April.

Friday August 3, 1894

M^r Wrigglesworth & M^r Taylor from T. Cooke & Sons came with reference to estimates for new Altaz. Dome & moving & reerecting Lassell dome.

Willilam Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... The instrument-making firm Thomas Cooke and Sons built both the Lassell and altazimuth domes at Greenwich. The former (pictured) was reused to surmount the New Physical Observatory.

Thursday August 2, 1894

M^r A.G. Fowler came with reference to boundary commission between French & English territory in W. Africa. Advised him to get a Transit instrument similar to that used by Cap^t Grant for moon culminating method.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... The transit instrument in question was made by Troughton & Simms, and the moon culminating method was used on Christie's advice on this occasion too - the survey of the Anglo-Portuguese boundary in eastern Africa in 1892.

Monday July 23, 1894

Went to Troughton & Simms’ in afternoon & arranged about alterations to astrographic micrometer & to position circle micrometer for 28 inch telescope. Ordered a new positive & a new negative eyepiece for 28in telescope power 1000. Inspected new altazimuth, the telescope, axis & circles being mounted in position. Approved of patterns for mounting of collimators. During my absence Minifie the labourer fell from a tree in the garden, from a height of about 25 feet. He fell on his back but, though much shaken, was not seriously injured. He was cutting off a branch which interfered with the sunshine register.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... Poor Minifie: a near-martyr of meteorological science.