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Mid Eighteenth Century Cased Gregorian Reflecting Telescope By Benjamin Martin Of Fleet Street

Status: This item has been sold
Sold by: Jason Clarke Antiques

For sale, a mid-Eighteenth Century, Gregorian reflecting telescope in original oak case by Benjamin Martin of Fleet Street, London.
 
This small sized example is comprised of a 14” main barrel with a diameter of two and a three quarter inches, and has a 3” screw-in eyetube beautifully engraved to B. Martin, Fleet Street London
 
Focus is achieved by means of a threaded brass rod with hand adjustment screw on the side of the instrument, which connects to an internal ratchet at the barrel end operating a small concave ellipsoid mirror back and forth. Light travels into the telescope and is reflected onto this mirror by means of a concave paraboloid mirror positioned at the eyepiece end of the barrel and is subsequently reflected back through a hole at the centre of the paraboloid mirror into the eyepiece.
 
The telescope body is mounted upon a brass tripod with medallion decorated retracting legs and padded feet. The tripod legs may also be removed to reveal a screw mount enabling the user to attach the tripod onto a piece of wood whilst operating in the field. The hole situated at the base of the stem is present to allow manual leverage if required for fixing. The altazimuth head of the tripod is mounted on a decorative scrolled platform and has a telescope rest with slots to accept the screw mounts attached to the barrel. (Please note that there is a minor historic repair to one of the slots which can be seen in the images provided which does not affect in any way.)
 
The telescope is also completed with its original brass screw-in end cap and retains its original oak fitted case with working lock and key. It also has its two original removable slips which would be slotted over the telescope when packed to reduce movement within the case during transit.
 
Accompanying the case is an original pen and ink note relating to an owner’s favourable impressions of the telescope and amongst other expectations of its use, considers whether it would be powerful enough to ...
Antique #SA961151, shown on this page, originates from 1750. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
←1750
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
JASON CLARKE ANTIQUES PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
Jason Clarke Antiques
Berkshire
United Kingdom
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
HISTORIC TIMELINE OPTIONS

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