Telescope accessories

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These telescope accessories, pictured here in their wooden case, were probably made around 1800 in London, by Thomas Jones (1775-1852), a scientific instrument maker. Jones was based in Charing Cross from 1816 to 1850.

The box is stamped 'GII' and contains a trade card for Thomas Jones of 62 Charing Cross. It contains the optical accessories for a refracting telescope (not shown), which includes an eyepiece micrometer (a device fitted on to the end of a telescope or transit instrument to pin-point objects within the field of vision) and five eyepieces.

Thomas Jones was one of the most eminent of his generation of instrument makers, being elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1835. He held Royal Appointments with the Duke of Clarence, later William IV, and also with the Ordnance. He also held a number of patents, and had been apprenticed to Jesse Ramsden, most famous instrument maker of the preceding generation.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-192-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1911.49
• Date: Around 1800
  c. 1800
  
• Material: Dark glass eyepiece covers / brass tripod. Inscription: G 11, HO [upward pointing arrow] 11 [Admiralty marks]
  Specimen / astronomical instrument / telescope, astronomical / t
  
• Dimensions: 43.00" L x 2.13" D
  
• What: Specimen / astronomical instrument / telescope, astronomical / t
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Refracting telescopes (Departmental Classification)
  22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Admiralty (Owner)
  Thomas Jones, 62 Charing Cross, London (Instrument maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  
• Event:
• Description: One of a collection of surveying, nautical, astronomical, meteorological and drawing instruments - astronomical telescope with two eyepieces, probably by Thomas Jones of London, c. 1800
  
• References:
  • For Thomas Jones, see Clifton, Gloria, Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851, London, 1995, p. 154. 
• Translations:
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