While a great story , the facts are less impressive. Scanlon wasn't some aluminium pioneer , sheets were available at that time from Alcoa , and it was being used in roof sheeting and very commonly in aircraft construction. Pittsburgh Metal Airplane Company was nearby , and Scanlon may have bought it there , or been a skilled dumpster diver. The image shown in this article is much more detailed than it was in real life.... .it was , hobby level construction at best , and only worked in aluminium because it was small.
Greg: No one is claiming that Scanlon discovered aluminum, only that he was the first one to use it for a telescope dome. And he was an amateur. As such, I did find his contribution impressive. Apparently so did Einstein and lot of other people. There is an historic marker: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=35633. It is easy to pour scorn on the work of other amateurs -- it is harder for amateurs to make innovations themselves. This was especially difficult in the midst of the great depression. I say, three cheers for Leo Scanlon! 73 Bill N2CQR
''he was the first one to use it for a telescope dome.'' .. And this likely is a false claim anyway. The UKs Macclean Dome at the Norman Lockyer Observatory is listed on the UK historical build website that it was made of alluminium in 1912. GB2NLO is a special event station there.
I believe the Macclean Dome was made of wood and CLAD in aluminium. But, whatever. I have been surprised by the amount of invective stirred up by this little article about the admirable work of one amateur builder in 1930. I will have to retreat to the more congenial (!) world of homebrew radio.
Well if anything defined "The Knack", that did!
ReplyDeletede G4WIF
Alliwhat ? , ehh , it will never take off.
ReplyDeleteWhile a great story , the facts are less impressive.
ReplyDeleteScanlon wasn't some aluminium pioneer , sheets were available at that time from Alcoa , and it was being used in roof sheeting and very commonly in aircraft construction.
Pittsburgh Metal Airplane Company was nearby , and Scanlon may have bought it there , or been a skilled dumpster diver.
The image shown in this article is much more detailed than it was in real life.... .it was , hobby level construction at best , and only worked in aluminium because it was small.
Greg: No one is claiming that Scanlon discovered aluminum, only that he was the first one to use it for a telescope dome. And he was an amateur. As such, I did find his contribution impressive. Apparently so did Einstein and lot of other people. There is an historic marker: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=35633. It is easy to pour scorn on the work of other amateurs -- it is harder for amateurs to make innovations themselves. This was especially difficult in the midst of the great depression. I say, three cheers for Leo Scanlon! 73 Bill N2CQR
ReplyDeletegregW:-) OH2DX
Delete''he was the first one to use it for a telescope dome.'' .. And this likely is a false claim anyway. The UKs Macclean Dome at the Norman Lockyer Observatory is listed on the UK historical build website that it was made of alluminium in 1912. GB2NLO is a special event station there.
DeleteI believe the Macclean Dome was made of wood and CLAD in aluminium. But, whatever. I have been surprised by the amount of invective stirred up by this little article about the admirable work of one amateur builder in 1930. I will have to retreat to the more congenial (!) world of homebrew radio.
Delete