Hello telescope lovers!
we 're looking for help to track down a classic Grubb refractor, 8", puchased 1885.
It was purchased by François Terby, an amateur astronomer who lived in Leuven (Louvain), Belgium directly from Grubb in Ireland. You can find material online about his Mars and Jupiter observations. He also published a Mars overview with all observations prior to 1870.
François installed the instrument in an observatory on top of his house (Bogaardenstraat 96). We could find back a building permit dating July 21th, 1884 for the observatory;
Also traced down was a building permit to remove the observatory, dating July 13th, 1961. This last building permit was handed over to the new owner of the house, Mr. Van den Eynde.
It's unclear what happened to the refractor.
The Leuven archive could confirm that there was no war damage on either world war to that specific house. The house still exists and a visit is planned.
A distinct possibility is that the German invaders at the time confiscated the instrument, either to use in a German based observatory, either for parts (as copper, brass, iron were stolen during WWI and WWII).
Other possibilities are that it was sold.
any lead would be helpfull!
Joost
