Thomas Grubb

Thomas Grubb (4 August 1800 – 16 September 1878) was an Irish optician, astronomer, engineer, early photographer, and founder of the Grubb Telescope Company. His innovations for large telescopes included clock-driven polar mounts, whiffletree mirror mounting cells and Cassegrain reflector optics. Later, the manufacturing firm changed its name to Grubb-Parsons in 1925.

Works Thomas Grubb's reputation as a competent telescope maker began to spread as he offered his talents to the Irish astronomical community. Grubb first met the director of Armagh Observatory, Romney Robinson, sometime in the 1830s. His first commission was for E.J. Cooper of Markree Observatory. It was used to sketch Halley's comet in 1835 and to view the solar eclipse of 15 May 1836. Grubb's work at the Markree Observatory would become known as a milestone in the creation and handling of large-scale telescopes.

In 1837, Thomas Grubb worked with fellow Irish scientist James MacCullagh. Together, they conducted a series of experiments on metallic refraction.

Later he built telescopes for observatories worldwide, including Aldershot Observatory, Melbourne, Vienna, Madrid and Mecca and others.

Thomas Grubb's company also made various scientific devices for Trinity College in Dublin. In 1839, his company made about twenty sets of magnetometers. Grubb was tasked with mounting the telescope. He provided a large support to provide stability. The firm was instrumental to the war efforts in World War I and would change its focus from telescope making to aiding the allies in their war efforts. and submarine periscopes. The escalation of the war – particularly in 1916 – caused the firm to be under military guard. A global shift to provide for the United States and the allies would change the scope of Grubb-Parsons forever. It is noted that during the war, Grubb-Parsons built around 95% of the periscopes in British submarines.