General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Canvas? exterior/ Synthetic (nylon?) lining/ Detachable (synthetic?) fake fur collar with fabric lining/ Metal zippers

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

175.0 cm

Width

100.0 cm

Height

10.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Clothing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Holden

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Ottawa

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1942+

Canada

A piece of clothing used at the David Dunlap Observatory at the University of Toronto, one of Canada’s most important astronomical observatories The David Dunlap Observatory opened in 1935 as the result of a bequest from the wife of David Dunlap. The telescope was a 74 inch (188 cm) reflector built by Grubb Parsons of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. The 74 inch was then the largest telescope in Canada (surpassing the 72 inch telescope of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria) and became the second largest in the world after the 100 inch Hooker Telescope of the Mt. Wilson Observatory outside Los Angeles. DDO's reputation grew and following WWII, it began to graduate most of the astronomers produced in Canada with University of Western Ontario far behind. Beginning in the 1960s a number of other astronomy departments were created but UofT/DDO held its place, a position it probably still holds. The DDO had a good technical staff which gave them an advantage and, with most of the 1940s to early 1970s top astronomers coming from UofT, grants from NRC and then ENSERC were almost guaranteed and allowed UofT's top astronomers -- Hogg, van den Berg, Fernie, Bolton, Kamper, Martin, etc. to acquire or build some of the best equipment available in university observatories. For optical observatories, only the DAO had technical staff and budgets that surpassed those of DDO. In 2007, citing increasing light pollution, the University of Toronto announced plans to sell the Observatory property. In June 2008, it was sold to Corsica Development Inc., a subsidiary of Metrus Development Inc. and the Observatory was closed. In 2009 the Observatory buildings and 80% of the site were designated a cultural heritage landscape. Also in 2009 Corsica and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre announced an agreement allowing the RASC to provide public education and outreach programs at the observatory, and to operate the 188 cm telescope.

Function

Originally, a garment worn to protect an aviator from cold temperatures while flying. This example was used in an astronomical observatory, worn by staff and visitors while at the telescope in cold weather.

Technical

A Canadian made WW II vintage flight suits used by DDO staff and visitors while at the telescope in cold weather and before the advent of the in-dome warm room and remote control of the telescope. The label indicates that it was made in 1942.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

White and blue label reading 'SIZE 8/ CANADIAN/ Flying Suit [script]/ MADE BY/ S.S. HOLDEN LTD./ OTTAWA AND HULL/ 1942' with image of diving airplane

Missing

Unknown

Finish

Buff-coloured shell/ Dark brown lining/ Dark brown detachable collar with grey backing/ Metallic zippers

Decoration

N/A