Telescope (detail)

Add to album

This is a detail of a reflecting telescope made in 1737, probably by James Short (1710-68), a scientific instrument maker based in Edinburgh.

The detail shows the inscription on the telescope's mirror retention plate. It reads 'JAMES SHORT EDINBURGH 1737 55/117'.

James Short produced over 1300 reflecting telescopes, sold to observatories and customers all over the world. He appears to have made only the reflecting optics, buying in the brass and glass work from the trade.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-190-000-950-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1981.28
• Date: 1737
  
• Material: Brass. Inscription: JAMES SHORT EDINBURGH 1737 55 / 117
  Telescope, reflecting
  
• Dimensions: 347 mm L x 64 mm D
  
• What: Telescope, reflecting
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Arthur Frank Collection of Scottish Scientific Instruments
  James Short, Edinburgh (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: 9 1/2" focus mounted Gregorian reflecting telescope in brass with speculum metal optics but lacking fitted wooden case, signed by James Short of Edinburgh, 1737
  
• References:
  • 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: NMS, 1989, p 7 
  • T.N. Clarke, A.D. Morrison-Low and A.D.C. Simpson (1989): "Brass and Glass 
• Translations:
• Related Records: