Wagn Hargbol and his 12.5" scope
The Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATM's) was founded in 1934 by a modest group of telescope making and astronomy enthusiasts. Their main goal was to assist others who were interested in the art of telescope and mirror making, and to learn together about astronomy and astronomical instruments. These founding members came from all walks of life; they were bankers, engineers, music teachers, plumbers, tinsmiths, secretaries and electricians to name only a few! Not long after its formation this small but enterprising group caught the attention of one Mr. Jones, who owned A.D. Jones Optical Works, the only optical business in Boston at the time. Mr. Jones shared the group's interest in astronomy and introduced the club to Dr. Harlow Shapley, the head of the Harvard College Observatory at the time. With Dr. Shapley's assistance, a series of monthly lectures and meetings (that continue to this day) were organized and held at the observatory.
Once the ATM found their home at Harvard they began to hold work sessions twice a week in the club's new "Optical Shop", a basement room adjacent to the pier of the great 15 inch Harvard Observatory telescope. Now with a friendly space to experiment and build the members would consistently attempt to build larger and larger instruments as their prowess and resources grew. Finally, a group within the club collaborated on the construction of a 20 inch aperture Cassegrain type telescope, rivaling the Harvard Observatory telescope in size. Their work was well under way and the mirror nearly completed when World War II broke out. Most members then had to devote their time to war duties, but a few continued their work at home and visited the optical shop for weekly instruction and guidance. These remaining members then banded together under the direction of Dr. James G. Baker to form the Harvard Optical Project (HOP) and was devoted to the fabrication of difficult to create reconnaissance lenses.
After the war came to an end ATM elected its first club president, Wagn Hargbol, who became foreman of the Optical Shop and later founded his own optical company. The HOP research lab was then sponsored by the Air Force and went on to become the Itek Corporation. Regular shop activities now resumed with the help of these new Air Force "professional amateurs" and the club grew to 180 members.
In the late 1950's as the combined Harvard College Observatory and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (HCO-SAO) complex expanded, the ATM Optical Workshop had to be relocated a number of times before finally being pushed out of it's long time home at Harvard University entirely. At that time, the club, which had grown to 220 members, moved into the cellar of one of its members and long range plans were made to purchase a piece of land and construct a workshop-observatory complex. In recognition of the various legal and financial problems involved with acquisition of property, buildings, and equipment, the club incorporated in Massachusetts as a non-profit education organization in 1966. Finally in 1977, after contacting Dr. Sebring and MIT the ATM was granted permission to occupy and rent an antique farmhouse near MIT's Haystack Observatory, which it still resides in today and maintains as an observatory and workshop.