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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Shangas, post: 134956, member: 360&quot;]These opera glasses sat in my local antiques shop for YEARS and YEARS and YEARS and YEARS and YEARS and YEARS. </p><p><br /></p><p>From the very first day I went in there, ages ago, until today, they sat behind a case with a massive price-tag on them. I lusted after them for ages. </p><p><br /></p><p>After getting a windfall of cash from Chinese New Year, I ummed-and-aahed over these glasses for ages, and today, I managed to haggle the shopkeeper down a fairly decent discount, and purchased them. </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/13007122_1719732054951940_5034960129742059957_n.jpg?oh=8a70d0597790f3591f4f68e7cb4fd115&amp;oe=57B08DD0" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>They were manufactured by London optician J.H. Steward (James Henry Steward). </p><p><br /></p><p>J.H. Steward operated a shop selling telescopes, field glasses, opera glasses, watches, clocks and jewelry, from at least four locations (three on The Strand, one on Cornhill), between about 1861-1891. Examining the addresses on the eyepieces, I think these were manufactured during the height of Mr. Steward&#039;s career (at which time he also held a warrant as supplier to the royal household, and the army). </p><p><br /></p><p>This would place them at around 1865-1870, according to my researches. </p><p><br /></p><p>This would officially make them the oldest pair of opera glasses that I have. </p><p><br /></p><p>You may notice that they are triple-focus glasses. They have settings for MARINE (lowest power), FIELD (medium power), and THEATRE (strongest magnification) on a swiveling barbell arrangement, operated by the little toggle-wheel on the right-hand side of the frame. </p><p><br /></p><p>One of the lenses is suffering quite badly from lens separation. I intend to take these to a camera-repairshop in town and see if they can fix them for a decent price.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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