Historic military Telescopes: Early 19thC Dollond

Atlantia · 8th January 2009, 07:01 PM

Well Rick!
Thats an impressive device! I'm sure Mr Eley willl be more or an expert on it than I, but I'll certainly give an opinion!

Your Dads recovering isn't a problem, the leather looks fine, and the turks heads add to the nautical look.
Apart from that it looks pretty original.
So, does it work? Do you get a good clear image? It should be fairly simple to take apart and carefully clean if its a bit grubby inside.
Date! Well, its a fairly complex instrument, with a leather covered brass outer barrel, the makers name looks hand engraved and is in nice script, so I'd guess at about 1840-60.
Its a fine piece, very expensive in its day. And its day was a golden age!

Regards
Gene

P.S.

I really rate these early telescopes.
I'm assuming yours IS nautical, and of course that was the most common use for them. Forget the Naval warships, and Just think of the other ships of the mid 19th that would have had one of these onboard (or two!)
The Clippers racing across the oceans, the other trade ships, the explorers, the passenger carriers, the steamers, the river boats, every one needed a good telescope, and every time (almost) something worthy of note happened or was seen or discovered, it was seen first through the Telescope.

I always think of Nelson holding the telescope to his blind eye! lol
These instruments are an incredibly important part of world history.

Phew, *enthusiasm off*

8th January 2009, 07:01 PM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Well Rick! Thats an impressive device! I'm sure Mr Eley willl be more or an expert on it than I, but I'll certainly give an opinion! Your Dads recovering isn't a problem, the leather looks fine, and the turks heads add to the nautical look. Apart from that it looks pretty original. So, does it work? Do you get a good clear image? It should be fairly simple to take apart and carefully clean if its a bit grubby inside. Date! Well, its a fairly complex instrument, with a leather covered brass outer barrel, the makers name looks hand engraved and is in nice script, so I'd guess at about 1840-60. Its a fine piece, very expensive in its day. And its day was a golden age! Regards Gene P.S. I really rate these early telescopes. I'm assuming yours IS nautical, and of course that was the most common use for them. Forget the Naval warships, and Just think of the other ships of the mid 19th that would have had one of these onboard (or two!) The Clippers racing across the oceans, the other trade ships, the explorers, the passenger carriers, the steamers, the river boats, every one needed a good telescope, and every time (almost) something worthy of note happened or was seen or discovered, it was seen first through the Telescope. I always think of Nelson holding the telescope to his blind eye! lol These instruments are an incredibly important part of world history. Phew, enthusiasm off Last edited by Atlantia; 8th January 2009 at 07:14 PM.