Telescope

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This brass telescope was made around 1850, probably by George Lowdon, a scientific instrument maker based in Dundee.

The hand-held refracting telescope has two glass optics, two draws and a tapered leather-covered barrel. Engraved on the first draw tube is 'Lowden,/ Dundee.'

George Lowdon complained in his autobiography that he had 'to teach Dundee what scientific instruments were'. However, he found there was a good market for instruments such as microscopes and telescopes.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-789-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1980.260
• Date: Around 1850
  c. 1850
  
• Material: Brass / leather. Inscription: Lowdon, / Dundee
  Telescope, refracting
  
• Dimensions: 50 mm D x 164 mm L (closed)
  
• What: Telescope, refracting
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Arthur Frank Collection of Scottish Scientific Instruments
  George Lowdon, Dundee (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Angus, Dundee
  
• Event:
• Description: 1 3/4" aperture 2-draw hand-held refracting telescope in brass with tapered leather-covered barrel, signed by George Lowdon, Dundee, c. 1850
  
• 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. pp 147,149,150 
  • T.N. Clarke, A.D. Morrison-Low and A.D.C. Simpson (1989): "Brass and Glass 
• Translations:
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