Telescope (detail)

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This is a detail of a refracting telescope made in 1765, probably by Peter Dollond, a scientific instrument maker based in London.

The detail shows the inscription on the telescope's single brass draw tube. It reads 'PETRUS DOLLOND/ Ann. Dom. 1765/ LONDINIUM'.

In 1758, Dollond's father, John, a Spitalfields weaver, patented his achromatic doublet lens. In 1765, a further improvement was made by Dollond himself using a double-concave flint glass cemented to two double convex lenses of crown glass.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-032-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1935.53
• Date: 1765
  
• Material: Brass (Draw tube)
  Mahogany (Tube)
  Telescope
  
• Dimensions: 26.00" closed L x 2.50" D
  
• What: Telescope
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Refracting telescopes (Departmental Classification)
  22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Peter Dollond, London (Telescope maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  
• Event:
• Description: Refracting telescope, single draw telescope with dark mahogany tube and brass draw tube inscribed 'Petrus Dollond, Ann. Dom. 1765, Londinium'
  
• References:
  • Dollond, Peter, 'An Account of an Improvement made by Mr Peter Dollond in his New Telescope' in Philosophical Transactions 55, part 1 (1765), pp 54-6 
• Translations:
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