Historic military Telescopes: Early 19thC Dollond

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Rick

Yup Gene, just the eyepiece slide/shutter is missing .
As far as company vessels go I have no records of that .

There were 7 brothers in my family during that era (mid-late 19thC); many of them I have no information on except all 7 fought in the Civil War ; maybe there is a military connection rather than Maritime ..

As for the scribed line; I live on a salt marsh about a mile wide .
The tele is usable to focus when set at the line; not in focus per se, but at least you can spot your object then focus finer .

I can see the passengers in the cars across the marsh quite well .

LOL, these are impressively powerful! I live in a big valley and can see the detail on wind chimes hanging on the verandas of the houses on the opposite side, which are about half a mile as the crow flies.

well, we know it can't have been made after 1870, so it could well have a civil war connection as it was almost certainly around at that time. And of course it was a very useful and expensive piece of equipment that would have been highly prized and desired by any officer!

Its amazing to think how even with my small scope, the user would have been able to see the expressions on the faces of the 'enemy' long before they came into effective range of the guns.

I see a lot where the sliding eyepiece cover has been removed. Which strikes me as strange as they are captive inside the body so shouldn't fall off?
I wonder if they were deliberately removed to make useage faster?

Regards
Gene