Mystery Solved? Why the Historic Dominion Observatory Objective Lens was Replaced.

In 1905, a National Observatory for Canada was constructed to house a 15-inch equatorial telescope and other instruments in its complex. A Warner & Swasey telescope with a John A. Brashear lens was purchased and used for the study of the Moon, spectroscopic binary stars, and other pursuits. Curiously, the Brashear objective was unceremoniously replaced in 1958 with the world's largest apochromat. But there was no announcement in the Journals or even mention in the Observatory Annual Reports. Why replace the Brashear? And why no announcement? Was the Brashear defective? Was it assembled backwards? Was there something to hide? The personal papers and daily journals of the principal actors are examined to uncover the truth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]