Zur Geschichte der astronomischen Messwerkzeuge von Purbach bis Reichenbach 1450 bis 1830

Abstract

IN all that relates to the mounting of telescopes or the construction of instruments intended for accurate measurements, in all that increases their convenience or adds to their efficiency, the firm of Repsold has won a world-wide reputation, and the book before us indicates in some measure the reason for this marked success. The head of the firm has been a keen and interested student of the history of past construction. For more than forty years, the author reminds us, he has been engaged in furthering the progress of instrumental construction, and in this time he has given close study to all that has effected the gradual development of this branch of engineering technique. He has assimilated all that experience can teach, has learnt the strength and the weakness of tha work of past masters, and has profited by their example and their attainments. We now in our turn have the opportunity of benefiting by the results of this close study, perfected by much examination and sifting, and in addition to tracing the evolution of modern instruments we get glimpses of trie history of astronomy, viewed from a new and interesting standpoint. Obviously, the connection between the progress of astronomical science and the improvement in instrumental equipment must be continuous and intimate, but how close the tie is can hardly be apprehended until we make a historical survey of the principles of instrumental construction, on a plan which reveals the part played by successive makers, and makes us understand to what extent astronomy has been forwarded by their endeavours.

Zur Geschichte der astronomischen Messwerkzeuge von Purbach bis Reichenbach 1450 bis 1830.

By Joh. A. Repsold. Pp. viii + 132. (Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann, 1908.) Price 16 marks.