Telescope

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This brass reflecting telescope was made in 1735, by James Short (1710-68), a scientific instrument maker based in Edinburgh.

The two-and-a-quarter inch aperture, 12-inch focus telescope is pillar-mounted on its wooden case and is engraved on the end plate 'JAMES SHORT EDINBURGH 1735 .30.68'.

This example comes from the beginning of Short's career. Its simple mounting is of little use for serious astronomical work, but adequate for casual amateur observation.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-711-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1967.93
• Date: 1735
  
• Material: Brass, metal mirrors, wood screw. Inscription: JAMES SHORT EDINBURGH 1735 .30.68
  Telescope, reflecting
  
• Dimensions: 9.00" H; 5.25" H from top of box; 12.94"L; 2.25" aperture
  
• What: Telescope, reflecting
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Reflecting telescopes (Departmental Classification)
  22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: James Short, Edinburgh (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Two and a quarter inch reflecting telescope by James Short of Edinburgh, 1735
  
• References:
  • For Short's life and work, see Clarke, T.N., Morrison-Low, A.D. & Simpson, A.D.C., Brass & glass scientific instrument making workshops in Scotland as illustrated by instruments from the Arthur Frank Collection at the Royal Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh: 
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