Telescope (detail)

Add to album

This is a detail of a reflecting telescope made around 1765, by James Short (1710-68), a scientific instrument maker based in London.

The detail shows the inscription on the telescope's mirror retention plate. It reads 'JAMES SHORT LONDON 188 /1335=7'.

The 'equation' means that the telescope has a nominal focal length of seven inches, that it was the 188th of that focal length made, and Short's 1335th telescope - the highest recorded so far.

Record details

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

• Online ID: 000-190-001-071-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1984.33
• Date: Around 1765
  c. 1765
  
• Material: Telescope, reflecting
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Telescope, reflecting
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: James Short, London (Maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  
• Event:
• Description: Brass reflecting telescope by James Short of London, c. 1765
  
• 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: 
• Translations:
• Related Records: