Telescope

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This brass telescope was probably made around 1850 and sold by Gardner & Co., scientific instrument makers based in Glasgow. Telescopes of this type were popular with stalkers and yachtsmen.

The hand-held refracting telescope has a leather-covered barrel and four draws. It is engraved on the first draw tube 'Gardners / Glasgow'.

The Gardner family firm was established in 1799 by John Gardner, who had been James Watt's principal journeyman before setting up on his own. The firm became prolific makers of scientific instruments during the 19th century.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-785-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1980.251
• Date: Around 1850
  c. 1900
  
• Material: Brass / leather. Inscription: Gardners / Glasgow
  Telescope, refracting
  
• Dimensions: 53 mm D x 195 mm L (closed)
  
• What: Telescope, refracting
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Arthur Frank Collection of Scottish Scientific Instruments
  Gardners, Glasgow (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  
• Event:
• Description: 1 1/2" aperture 4-draw hand-held refracting telescope in brass with leather-covered barrel, with triplet objective and 2-component eyepiece, signed by Gardners of Glasgow, c. 1900
  
• 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 178 
  • T.N. Clarke, A.D. Morrison-Low and A.D.C. Simpson (1989): "Brass and Glass 
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