Difference between revisions of "Perkin-Elmer"
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| − | + | '''Perkin-Elmer''' was an American optical design and consulting company founded in 1937 by Richard S. Perkin and Charles W. Elmer.<ref>[http://www.perkinelmer.com/nl/corporate/company/our-history/our-innovators-then-now.html Our Innovators Then & Now Richard Perkin & Charles Elmer]</ref> The two met in the 1930s and shared a common interest in astronomy, leading them to go into the optics business together. the company was incorporated in New York in 1939.<ref>PerkinElmer: Timeline 1939 Incorporation of the Company</ref> In 1944 the company also began working in the field of analytical instruments. Starting in 1954, the business operated in Germany as '''Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH'''. | |
| − | '''Perkin-Elmer''' was an American optical design and consulting company founded in 1937 by Richard S. Perkin and Charles W. Elmer.<ref>[http://www.perkinelmer.com/ | ||
Perkin-Elmer designed the optical systems for the classified KH-9 Hexagon reconnaissance satellites, commonly known as Big Birds, that were used by the United States from 1971-1986. The satellites contained a film camera with a 1.5 m, f/3.0 telephoto lens and a secondary, lower resolution film-based mapping camera. After exposure, the film was jettisoned from the satellite in a reentry vehicle that returned the film to Earth for processing. | Perkin-Elmer designed the optical systems for the classified KH-9 Hexagon reconnaissance satellites, commonly known as Big Birds, that were used by the United States from 1971-1986. The satellites contained a film camera with a 1.5 m, f/3.0 telephoto lens and a secondary, lower resolution film-based mapping camera. After exposure, the film was jettisoned from the satellite in a reentry vehicle that returned the film to Earth for processing. | ||
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Perkin-Elmer sold the 600mm f/8<ref>[http://www.pbase.com/olyinaz/600catlens Perkin-Elmer 600mm solid cat]</ref> and 800mm f/11 Catadioptric lenses under their own name as well. These were identical to the OPCON-designed Vivitar Series 1 lenses that Perkin-Elmer manufactured. There is also known to be a Perkin-Elmer 680mm f/12 compact catadioptric lens.<ref>[http://forum.mflenses.com/mirror-lens-perkin-elmer-680mm-f-12-compact-telephoto-t25153.html MFLenses Forum: Perkin-Elmer 680mm f/12 Compact Telephoto]</ref> | Perkin-Elmer sold the 600mm f/8<ref>[http://www.pbase.com/olyinaz/600catlens Perkin-Elmer 600mm solid cat]</ref> and 800mm f/11 Catadioptric lenses under their own name as well. These were identical to the OPCON-designed Vivitar Series 1 lenses that Perkin-Elmer manufactured. There is also known to be a Perkin-Elmer 680mm f/12 compact catadioptric lens.<ref>[http://forum.mflenses.com/mirror-lens-perkin-elmer-680mm-f-12-compact-telephoto-t25153.html MFLenses Forum: Perkin-Elmer 680mm f/12 Compact Telephoto]</ref> | ||
| − | In the late 1970s Perkin-Elmer won a NASA contract to build the optical components of the Hubble Space Telescope, a job that became the company's most famous debacle. Technicians at the company miscalibrated a null corrector, resulting the creation of a primary mirror for the telescope that had significant [[spherical aberration]]. A problem that was not discovered until the telescope was in orbit. NASA launched a repair mission that applied corrections to the secondary mirror, leaving the larger, faulty primary mirror in place. A subsequent NASA investigation criticized Perkin-Elmer's management, noting that they had disregarded quality guidelines and ignored test data which showed the mirror to be faulty.<ref>[ | + | In the late 1970s Perkin-Elmer won a NASA contract to build the optical components of the Hubble Space Telescope, a job that became the company's most famous debacle. Technicians at the company miscalibrated a null corrector, resulting the creation of a primary mirror for the telescope that had significant [[spherical aberration]]. A problem that was not discovered until the telescope was in orbit. NASA launched a repair mission that applied corrections to the secondary mirror, leaving the larger, faulty primary mirror in place. A subsequent NASA investigation criticized Perkin-Elmer's management, noting that they had disregarded quality guidelines and ignored test data which showed the mirror to be faulty.<ref>[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19910003124/downloads/19910003124.pdf The Hubble Space Telescope Optical Systems Failure Report]</ref> |
On 28 May, 1999 Perkin-Elmer merged with EG&G, Inc to form '''PerkinElmer'''. The new company diversified into a wide range of technology businesses including health, environmental analysis, medical imaging, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biotechnology, specialty lighting and sensors. | On 28 May, 1999 Perkin-Elmer merged with EG&G, Inc to form '''PerkinElmer'''. The new company diversified into a wide range of technology businesses including health, environmental analysis, medical imaging, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biotechnology, specialty lighting and sensors. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Notes== |
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Latest revision as of 04:58, 14 March 2022
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| Perkin-Elmer,36inch F401 image by Pearse Stokes (Image rights) |
Perkin-Elmer was an American optical design and consulting company founded in 1937 by Richard S. Perkin and Charles W. Elmer.[1] The two met in the 1930s and shared a common interest in astronomy, leading them to go into the optics business together. the company was incorporated in New York in 1939.[2] In 1944 the company also began working in the field of analytical instruments. Starting in 1954, the business operated in Germany as Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH.
Perkin-Elmer designed the optical systems for the classified KH-9 Hexagon reconnaissance satellites, commonly known as Big Birds, that were used by the United States from 1971-1986. The satellites contained a film camera with a 1.5 m, f/3.0 telephoto lens and a secondary, lower resolution film-based mapping camera. After exposure, the film was jettisoned from the satellite in a reentry vehicle that returned the film to Earth for processing.
During the 1960s - 1980s the company designed and built a variety of optical and lens systems for military use including weapons sighting systems, gun cameras, night reconnaissance gear, and camera systems. They provided lenses for the camera systems used in U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy planes including huge 36 inch f/4.0 lenses.[3] Strange Perkin-Elmer lenses from this era are frequently found from military surplus vendors and online auction websites.
Ellis Betensky worked for Perkin-Elmer as their senior optical designer prior to forming his own company, OPCON Associates. OPCON's first major project was as a design consultant to Ponder & Best to design their innovative Vivitar Series 1 lenses. Perkin-Elmer was chosen to manufacture the more complex optical designs due to Betensky's past associations with the company. Most of Vivitar Series 1 lenses were manufactured by traditional Japanese lens manufacturers but two, the 600mm f/8 and 800mm f/11 Solid Catadioptric lenses relied on the advanced optical materials and designs that Perkin-Elmer specialized in.
Perkin-Elmer sold the 600mm f/8[4] and 800mm f/11 Catadioptric lenses under their own name as well. These were identical to the OPCON-designed Vivitar Series 1 lenses that Perkin-Elmer manufactured. There is also known to be a Perkin-Elmer 680mm f/12 compact catadioptric lens.[5]
In the late 1970s Perkin-Elmer won a NASA contract to build the optical components of the Hubble Space Telescope, a job that became the company's most famous debacle. Technicians at the company miscalibrated a null corrector, resulting the creation of a primary mirror for the telescope that had significant spherical aberration. A problem that was not discovered until the telescope was in orbit. NASA launched a repair mission that applied corrections to the secondary mirror, leaving the larger, faulty primary mirror in place. A subsequent NASA investigation criticized Perkin-Elmer's management, noting that they had disregarded quality guidelines and ignored test data which showed the mirror to be faulty.[6]
On 28 May, 1999 Perkin-Elmer merged with EG&G, Inc to form PerkinElmer. The new company diversified into a wide range of technology businesses including health, environmental analysis, medical imaging, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biotechnology, specialty lighting and sensors.
Notes
- ↑ Our Innovators Then & Now Richard Perkin & Charles Elmer
- ↑ PerkinElmer: Timeline 1939 Incorporation of the Company
- ↑ Perkin-Elmer 36 inch f/4.0 Aerial camera Lens
- ↑ Perkin-Elmer 600mm solid cat
- ↑ MFLenses Forum: Perkin-Elmer 680mm f/12 Compact Telephoto
- ↑ The Hubble Space Telescope Optical Systems Failure Report
Links
- PerkinElmer official website
