The Hennigar Reflector
In 1932, London Centre member Donald M. Hennigar built two Newtonian reflectors, a 6" and 8". Mr. Hennigar showed these telescopes at the RASC London Centre meeting on November 11, 1932, and the telescopes were also set up for a star night at the Higgins' farm on September 14, 1934. Saturn and Mizar were targets that night.
Mr. Hennigar served as London Centre vice-president in 1936, 1937 and 1938. He and his wife attended many meetings from 1931 until his death in 1951. When Mrs. Hennigar passed away a few years later, the two reflectors and a 4" refractor that he also built were in the hands of their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Pollard. The Pollards never used the telescopes, but stored them carefully for decades. When Mrs. Pollard, the daughter of D.M. Hennigar, passed away in 1996, Mr. Pollard decided that the telescopes should be given to someone with an interest in astronomy, and found KIRBY ALGUIRE, the son of a friend.
The 8" telescope looks very similar to the 6" version shown above. Of course, some work needs to be done to restore the Hennigar reflector to its former glory. Current London Centre President Dave McCarter cleaned the mirror and put it on the Foucault tester. It is nearly f/8, shows severe astigmatism and is not well-corrected, with a central depression and a slightly turned edge. The turned edge is almost normal considering the way that mirrors were parabolized at the time. The edge is hidden by the ring mount. London Centre member Dave Rubenhagen reports that the mount, a tapered steel pedestal with an interesting worm gear movement, can be fixed up. The tube is made of rolled sheet metal and can also be rejuvenated. Before too long, the Hennigar reflector will once again be gathering starlight.