Abstract Astronomy is an observational science. This paper points out that in the development of astronomy, the means of observation at every stage has as its main body the ; large equipment of the time, but equally important is the simultaneous development of small equipment as strategic complement. A number of historical examples are cited. The recently suggested ``Special Radio Telescope Dedicated to Pulsar Research'' originates in the small equipment strategy, and a brief introduction to this instrument is included here.
Keywords instrumentation --- telescopes
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