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> I had in mind to publish a book on celestial navigation anyway, and the sun
> squash chapter could be ?the hook?, that is, some information that had never
> been published before to give it intrinsic value.  There would be an insert
> with ellipses of 5, 10, and 15 % printed on sun shade material, that could be
> held up to compare with the actual sun.  Trouble was, I could not produce such
> ellipses  of suitable quality for publication.  I needed a PC with a desktop
> publishing program which had not yet been invented. So, the whole project
> languished in a file cabinet all these years.  Now the issue is moot except
> for the interest some list members may have in knowing about it.

Ken

You run a business, and very well it would appear. It would be a shame if
your book was never published. Any chance of a compromise?  Publish your
chapter on squash.  You now have the PC and graphics programs you wished
for, as well as on-demand printing. Celestair has the marketing vehicle.  At
a $10-15 price point (at 100 units you would probably pass break even) I
would jump at the opportunity to have your insights. (Woodworkers gladly pay
$10-15 for a self-published blurb regarding cove cutting and angles on a
table saw).  Hire some high-school kid (not the same one that claims this is
the 30th issue of the Celestair catalog on the inside-front cover for years
;-)

Even it is a break-even proposition, it does give you and Celestair yet
another unique selling proposition--the Gebhart sunset/sunrise sextant (for
a lot less than another curiosity, the Bris sextant).

Heck. I would be more happy to produce the graphics for the ellipses in any
increments you would like, gratis.  Feed me the major and minor axis--its a
piece of cake.

Bill

   

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