Early 19th-century lacquered brass refractor. 3-inch objective lens. 35-inch (89cm) long tube with rack and pinion focusing. Lens cap, small slide to protect eyepiece. Five additional eyepieces. No finderscope. Cabriole leg tripod with padded feet, tapered column support. Signed M. Berg London. Mahogany carrying case.
Late 19th-century brass refractor. 2 3/4-inch objective lens. 44-inch (112cm) long body with two types of focusing--coarse focusing by pulling out the drawtube, fine focusing with a rack and pinion mechanism inside the tube. Small slide to cover eyepiece, finderscope, twin rods for altitude adjustment (Hooke's Universal Joints), alt-azimuth mount on brass and mahogany tripod. Brass locking ring. Unsigned.
Mid-19th-century lacquered brass refractor with 3-inch objective lens. This scope is interesting for the equatorial mount, which allows the scope to follow the movement of stars and planets by swinging in one arc only. By contrast, an alt-azimuth mount must be moved in two directions simultaneously. This piece is signed Troughton & Simms London 1848 on the equatorial circle, which is engraved with a 24-hour scale in roman numerals and further sub-divided with vernier lines. The declination circle is divided into two quadrants, also with a finely engraved vernier. A bubble level can be seen on the top front of the mount. The cabriole legs fold inward. Three extra eyepieces are marked 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, and 2 inch. The mahogany carrying case is labeled Broadhurst Clarkson & Co. The telescope is further signed on the backplate TROUGHTON & SIMMS, LONDON. Click on the photo at right to see details.
19th-century brass reflecting telescope with 2.5-inch primary
mirror. The scope is small, having a body tube only 11-inches (28cm) long. Primary and secondary mirrors both of silver. The screw-rod moves the mirror for focusing. The red-painted
pine case bears a label signed PALLANT Optician 51 Strand, London, W.C.