Antique Brass Telescope (Ca. 1900?)

I reckon you're right, Komokwa.

That said, I think I like it just as naked brass. Looks classy.

 

Good to see the photos of the eyepiece, the only part that wasn't completely polished. Has a nice old brown patina proving the piece has age to it. Looks like a couple of letters or what's left of them remain on eyepiece, one of the places makers put their names.

 

I haven't actually polished anything on this telescope. And I don't really intend to.

I pulled it apart to wipe out the grime inside (and there was a LOT of that). I blew out the dust and cleaned down the barrels, I polished the lenses. That was it. I haven't actually done anything else. Just to make it cleaner and easier to see through.

 

Now we've all had a jolly good look at this telescope, can anyone hazard a guess on its age? I was told Edwardian-era by the guy who I bought it from. But I suspect it may be older.

 

Malcolm Addoms of Richmond, Va deals in such items and could assess it for you. I don't have his contact info- try zabasearch or google.

 

Thanks SA. I've tried researching the history of telescopes online but there's surprisingly little information.

 

I would expect to be able to find one similar to identical at any large antiques fair here in Britain for about £50 or less. I'd expect it to retain the leather cover and to date from the late 19th to early 20th C. This was the period when prismatic binoculars became available and superceded telescopes for most field applications. Apart from astronomy the only use I can think of for them now is spotting scopes on a rifle range.

When they became redundant, they got put away in sheds and drawers and that's why there are a lot of them around now. They tend to be mostly later examples. Prices for run of the mill examples have dropped notably in the last 20 years.

Telescopes with makers marks always have them on the eyepiece draw. The most practical application for the extending shield would be to keep rain and spray off the lens when in use. Pocket size versions like this would be unlikely to be for mariner's use, since at sea size would not be a problem but the extra magnification and light gathering power of a larger size would be a notable advantage.

 

Thanks for the reply, AF, it makes a lot of sense.

You said late 1800s - 1900s. How old do you think mine is? I was told 100 years by the guy I bought it from (so presumably somewhere between 1900-1920). Could it conceivably be older/younger than that?

 

Without a makers mark or provenance , that's as good a dating as you're going to get.
100 years old ....that's an antique.

 

Sorry my Ronco pocket Age-O-Meter isn't working, I sent it in for repairs, they think it needs a new sensor head.

 

I hope they don't replace it with the Veg-O-Matic !!

 

Ok sorry folks. I guess it was a stupid question.

 

It's not a stupid question. It's an entirely appropriate question. It's just that there's not enough information to answer it.

 

Malcolm knows.

 

Only The Shadow knows............................

 

Pity I'm not Lamont Cranston, then.