Press
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PHILADELPHIA -- In the hands of Galileo, the telescope now on display at the Franklin Institute here was an instrument of revolution. To match Galileo's original innovation, a team of 15 U.S. astronomers and optical engineers labored for two years to design a cheap, high-quality telescope kit. "We took as our challenge to design an inexpensive telescope that could see the rings of Saturn" -- one of Galileo's first and most perplexing observations -- says astronomer Stephen Pompea at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Ariz., who led the design group...
The Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2009
Early last year, amateur stargazer and Racine business owner Tom Smith embarked on a plan to turn the clock back on astronomy by 400 years. He's a participant in a United Nations project to reinvigorate astronomy among the youth of the world, and his part is to fill everyone with the same wonder and inspiration that Galileo felt when he first spied the heavens through his telescope in 1609. Smith and his company, a small tool and die shop called Merit Models, intend to fulfill that mission with the Galileoscope...
The Business Journal, March 13, 2009
Racine County -- The Galileoscope, a United Nations project and telescope kit being built by a Racine company, is entering the production stage. The Galileoscope is a telescope kit designed to spark an astronomical interest in people around the world. It is the largest of 11 projects for the U.N.'s International Year of Astronomy 2009. A small Racine company, Merit Models, 1833 Oakdale Ave., will manufacture the kits, in China...
Journal Times, February 23, 2009
Racine County -- Like a young star cluster, a special telescope that may allow millions of people to discover outer space is being unveiled in this area. The Galileoscope, a telescope kit designed to spark an astronomical interest in people around the world, is a project for the United Nations-designated International Year of Astronomy 2009. And a Racine company will make the telescope...
Journal Times, January 11, 2009
According to a national industry survey conducted by D-M-E Co., a Madison Heights, Mich.-based supplier to mold-and-die shops, 30% of responding manufacturers would consider partnering with Chinese firms. About 32% said they would be willing to partner with companies in Taiwan or Hong Kong. A new venture started by a couple of Racine companies, with help from the Sturtevant-based Center for Applied Technology and Innovation (CATI), may be the first example of southeastern Wisconsin manufacturers actually forming substantial partnerships with their lower-cost Asian counterparts. The two companies -- Summit Tool Works and Merit Models -- are both based at 1833 Oakdale Ave. in Racine...