The composition of bronze mirrors in 18th-century reflecting telescopes
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Published
Jul 18, 2024
Abstract
High-tin bronzes were already used for mirrors in antiquity. These alloys were also employed in reflecting telescopes before the availability of silvered glass mirrors of sufficient optical quality. Bronze mirrors from six 18th-century telescopes in the collections of the Musée d’histoire des sciences in Geneva, four of them signed by well-known London instrument makers, were analysed for this study. Their composition is discussed in the context of historic recipes and reference results from other contemporary telescopes.
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References
Bennett J A 2012, ‘The art of polishing: practice and prose in eighteenth-century telescope making’, in A D Morrison-Low, S Dupré, S Johnston and G Strano (eds), From earth-bound to satellite: Telescopes, skills, and networks (Leiden), 103–121. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004214613_005
Edwards J 1783, ‘Directions for making the best composition for the metals of reflecting telescopes, and the method of casting, grinding, polishing, and giving the great Speculum the true parabolic figure’, in The nautical almanac and astronomical ephemeris, for the year 1787 (London).
Ghosh G 2004, ‘Elastic properties, hardness, and indentation fracture toughness of intermetallics relevant to electronic packaging’, Journal of Materials Research 19, 1439–1454. https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2004.0193
Meeks N 1993, ‘Surface characterization of tinned bronze, high-tin bronze, tinned iron and arsenical bronze’, in S La Niece and P Craddock (eds), Metal plating and patination (Oxford), 247–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-1611-9.50025-X
Millburn J R 2000, Adams of Fleet Street, instrument makers to King George III (London and New York).
Montucla J-É and de la Lande J 1802, Histoire des Mathématiques, vol 3, 2nd edn (Paris).
Mudge J 1777, ‘Directions for making the best composition for the metals of reflecting telescopes; together with a description of the process for grinding, polishing, and giving the great speculum the true parabolic curve’, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 67, 296–349. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1777.0017
Murase K, Ito A, Ichii T and Sugimura H 2011, ‘Preparation of Cu-Sn layers on polymer substrate by reduction-diffusion method using ionic liquid baths’, Journal of the Electrochemical Society 158, D335–D341. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3573984
Passemant C S 1738, Construction d’un telescope de réflexion (Paris).
Scott D A 1991, Metallography and microstructure of ancient and historic metals (Marina del Rey, CA).
Simpson A D C 1992, ‘James Gregory and the reflecting telescope’, Journal for the History of Astronomy 23, 77–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/002182869202300201
Simpson A D C 2009, ‘The beginnings of commercial manufacture of the reflecting telescope in London’, Journal for the History of Astronomy 40, 421–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/002182860904000405
Smith R 1738, A compleat system of opticks (Cambridge).
Srinivasan S and Glover I 1998, ‘High-tin bronze mirrors of Kerala, South India’, Institute of Archaeo-Metallurgical Studies Newsletter 20, 15–17.
Turner G L’E 1969. ‘James Short, F.R.S., and his contributions to the construction of reflecting telescopes’, Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London 24, 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsnr.1969.0008
Turner G L’E 1979, ‘The number code on reflecting telescopes by Nairne and Blunt’, Journal for the History of Astronomy 10, 177–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/002182867901000303
Willach R 2007, ‘The development of the reflecting telescope in the 18th century from John Hadley to James Short’, Atti della Fondazione Giorgio Ronchi 62, 255–287.
Edwards J 1783, ‘Directions for making the best composition for the metals of reflecting telescopes, and the method of casting, grinding, polishing, and giving the great Speculum the true parabolic figure’, in The nautical almanac and astronomical ephemeris, for the year 1787 (London).
Ghosh G 2004, ‘Elastic properties, hardness, and indentation fracture toughness of intermetallics relevant to electronic packaging’, Journal of Materials Research 19, 1439–1454. https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2004.0193
Meeks N 1993, ‘Surface characterization of tinned bronze, high-tin bronze, tinned iron and arsenical bronze’, in S La Niece and P Craddock (eds), Metal plating and patination (Oxford), 247–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-1611-9.50025-X
Millburn J R 2000, Adams of Fleet Street, instrument makers to King George III (London and New York).
Montucla J-É and de la Lande J 1802, Histoire des Mathématiques, vol 3, 2nd edn (Paris).
Mudge J 1777, ‘Directions for making the best composition for the metals of reflecting telescopes; together with a description of the process for grinding, polishing, and giving the great speculum the true parabolic curve’, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 67, 296–349. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1777.0017
Murase K, Ito A, Ichii T and Sugimura H 2011, ‘Preparation of Cu-Sn layers on polymer substrate by reduction-diffusion method using ionic liquid baths’, Journal of the Electrochemical Society 158, D335–D341. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3573984
Passemant C S 1738, Construction d’un telescope de réflexion (Paris).
Scott D A 1991, Metallography and microstructure of ancient and historic metals (Marina del Rey, CA).
Simpson A D C 1992, ‘James Gregory and the reflecting telescope’, Journal for the History of Astronomy 23, 77–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/002182869202300201
Simpson A D C 2009, ‘The beginnings of commercial manufacture of the reflecting telescope in London’, Journal for the History of Astronomy 40, 421–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/002182860904000405
Smith R 1738, A compleat system of opticks (Cambridge).
Srinivasan S and Glover I 1998, ‘High-tin bronze mirrors of Kerala, South India’, Institute of Archaeo-Metallurgical Studies Newsletter 20, 15–17.
Turner G L’E 1969. ‘James Short, F.R.S., and his contributions to the construction of reflecting telescopes’, Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London 24, 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsnr.1969.0008
Turner G L’E 1979, ‘The number code on reflecting telescopes by Nairne and Blunt’, Journal for the History of Astronomy 10, 177–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/002182867901000303
Willach R 2007, ‘The development of the reflecting telescope in the 18th century from John Hadley to James Short’, Atti della Fondazione Giorgio Ronchi 62, 255–287.
How to Cite
The composition of bronze mirrors in 18th-century reflecting telescopes. (2024). Historical Metallurgy, 54(2), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.54841/hm.665
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How to Cite
The composition of bronze mirrors in 18th-century reflecting telescopes. (2024). Historical Metallurgy, 54(2), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.54841/hm.665