Roof Prism

Description:

After the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, American leaders realized that the best optical instruments came from German shops. Thus, to obtain the spy glasses, binoculars, range finders, and other optical instruments needed by its fighting forces, they commandeered the resources of private optical and instrument shops. And they authorized the establishment of a new optical shop at the Washington Navy Yard. That facility, later termed the Naval Weapons Plant Optical Shop, gave this glass roof prism, for a telescope, to the Smithsonian in 1961.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: PH.319368Catalog Number: 319368Accession Number: 237036

Object Name: Prism, Telescope

Physical Description: glass (overall material)Measurements: overall: 76 mm x 40 mm x 40 mm; 3 in x 1 9/16 in x 1 9/16 inoverall: 1 9/16 in x 3 in x 1 5/8 in; 3.96875 cm x 7.62 cm x 4.1275 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-43ae-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1184169

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.