Telescope (detail)

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This is a detail of a telescope made around 1850 by Thomas Morton, a carpet machinery maker and scientific instrument maker based in Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire.

The detail shows the maker's signature engraved on the reflecting telescope's mirror retention plate. It reads 'Thos. Morton / KILMARNOCK'.

Thomas Morton's main occupation was as a carpet machinery manufacturer. This allowed him access to materials and tools with which to construct his telescopes.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-062-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1981.38
• Date: Around 1850
  c. 1850
  
• Material: Brass. Inscription: Thos. Morton / KILMARNOCK
  Telescope, reflecting
  
• Dimensions: 527 mm L x 111 mm D
  
• What: Telescope, reflecting
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Arthur Frank Collection of Scottish Scientific Instruments
  Thomas Morton, Kilmarnock (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Ayrshire, Kilmarnock
  
• Event:
• Description: 14" focus Gregorian reflecting telescope in brass with speculum metal optics, 1" finder telescope and wooden tripod, signed by Thomas Morton of Kilmarnock, 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 190-1,193,195 
  • T.N. Clarke, A.D. Morrison-Low and A.D.C. Simpson (1989): "Brass and Glass 
• Translations:
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