Historic military Telescopes: Early 19thC Dollond

Atlantia · 7th January 2009, 01:23 AM

I know this isn't a weapon, but these certainly were instrumental in influencing many battles, so I thought they might make an interesting aside.

I want to share with you all a piece from my collection. A rare vintage pocket telescope from the beginning of the 19thC made by the most famous of makers 'Dollond'.
Military personel now take for granted their incredibly complex optical devices, night vision, thermal imaging, the list is endless.
but here is where 'mass produced' long range optical devices really came of age.
Dollond is credited with retailing the first telescopes which did not suffer from Chromatic aberration (he is actually credited with solving the problem but in fact followed from anothers work).
His 'day and night' telescopes were common military and naval equipment. Nelson used one in fact. The military significance of Dollond telescopes cannot be overstated.

So, here is my little telescope, small enough to fit in a tunic pocket, and yet still powerful and clear. closed it is about 5 inches long.
The 3 'drawers' are brass, with the main outer barrel being carved from wood. This type is routinely dated to 1780-1820 on websites.
This type is sometimes refered to as 'army' type due to it being popular with officers of the time.

Imagine the sights it could have seen!

M ELEY · 8th January 2009, 11:30 AM

Nice piece! As a collector of nautical/maritime/privateer pieces, I find these early telescopes fascinating. The earliest ones were just long, wooden hexigonal tubes of one piece construction. AS you pointed out, Dolland was one of the most famous (and prolific) of makers. The sailors used to call these the 'bring 'em near' for obvious reasons. Thanks for sharing this piece!

Rick · 8th January 2009, 05:42 PM

Is Spencer Browning a recognised London Maker ?

I have an 'improved' single draw ship's model engraved with the maker name in the style of yours .

Atlantia · 8th January 2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Nice piece! As a collector of nautical/maritime/privateer pieces, I find these early telescopes fascinating. The earliest ones were just long, wooden hexigonal tubes of one piece construction. AS you pointed out, Dolland was one of the most famous (and prolific) of makers. The sailors used to call these the 'bring 'em near' for obvious reasons. Thanks for sharing this piece!

I do love the naval ones! These things were so important for the Navy, even reading communications I guess.
Don't be shy, post some pics

Atlantia · 8th January 2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Is Spencer Browning a recognised London Maker ?

I have an 'improved' single draw ship's model engraved with the maker name in the style of yours .

Yes I've seen several described as by that maker.
can you post some pics?

Rick · 8th January 2009, 06:43 PM

Here you go .
Been in the family forever .
Dad recovered the barrel and added turks heads .

Atlantia · 8th January 2009, 07:01 PM

Well Rick!
Thats an impressive device! I'm sure Mr Eley willl be more or an expert on it than I, but I'll certainly give an opinion!

Your Dads recovering isn't a problem, the leather looks fine, and the turks heads add to the nautical look.
Apart from that it looks pretty original.
So, does it work? Do you get a good clear image? It should be fairly simple to take apart and carefully clean if its a bit grubby inside.
Date! Well, its a fairly complex instrument, with a leather covered brass outer barrel, the makers name looks hand engraved and is in nice script, so I'd guess at about 1840-60.
Its a fine piece, very expensive in its day. And its day was a golden age!

Regards
Gene

P.S.

I really rate these early telescopes.
I'm assuming yours IS nautical, and of course that was the most common use for them. Forget the Naval warships, and Just think of the other ships of the mid 19th that would have had one of these onboard (or two!)
The Clippers racing across the oceans, the other trade ships, the explorers, the passenger carriers, the steamers, the river boats, every one needed a good telescope, and every time (almost) something worthy of note happened or was seen or discovered, it was seen first through the Telescope.

I always think of Nelson holding the telescope to his blind eye! lol
These instruments are an incredibly important part of world history.

Phew, *enthusiasm off*

Rick · 8th January 2009, 07:48 PM

Yes, the family was in the mercantile trade; foodstuffs .

Cobb Bates and Yerxa Importers and Grocers, Boston 19thC. ; later to become S.S. Pierce .

Atlantia · 8th January 2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Yes, the family was in the mercantile trade; foodstuffs .

Cobb Bates and Yerxa Importers and Grocers, Boston 19thC. ; later to become S.S. Pierce .

Hi Rick,
Well I'm happy! I was only 10 years off in my estimation of age! Here is the full SP on Spencer Browning:

Spencer Browning Rust worked in London from 1724 to 1840 when the name was changed to Spencer Browning & Co. after the death of Ebenezer Rust. The successor, Spencer Browning had offices at a number of addresses on Wapping High Street, London and were in business until 1870. They had an early dividing machine and inscribed arcs for others.

Ref: Gloria Clifton, Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 (London, 1995), p. 261.

Its a lovely piece, does it work well?

Hmmm, think I may change my name to Ebeneezer Rust!

Rick · 8th January 2009, 09:49 PM

Thank you Atlantia .

It does, or did 50 years ago (needs another disassembly and cleaning).

Interestingly enough there is a neatly scratched or scribed ring on the eyepiece tube that may be a 'starting point' from which to begin focussing on objects a mile or so away .

I wish I had the eyepiece shutter ..

Atlantia · 9th January 2009, 04:00 AM

Hi Rick,
You are very welcome bud

Is it just the little sliding cover missing?
Its a nice big scope, do you think it was used on a 'family' ship?
Be interesting to sight something at the range of the mark on a clear road then use the car tripometer to measure the distance!

Regards
Gene

Rick · 9th January 2009, 03:09 PM

Yup Gene, just the eyepiece slide/shutter is missing .
As far as company vessels go I have no records of that .

There were 7 brothers in my family during that era (mid-late 19thC); many of them I have no information on except all 7 fought in the Civil War ; maybe there is a military connection rather than Maritime ..

As for the scribed line; I live on a salt marsh about a mile wide .
The tele is usable to focus when set at the line; not in focus per se, but at least you can spot your object then focus finer .

I can see the passengers in the cars across the marsh quite well .

Atlantia · 9th January 2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Yup Gene, just the eyepiece slide/shutter is missing .
As far as company vessels go I have no records of that .

There were 7 brothers in my family during that era (mid-late 19thC); many of them I have no information on except all 7 fought in the Civil War ; maybe there is a military connection rather than Maritime ..

As for the scribed line; I live on a salt marsh about a mile wide .
The tele is usable to focus when set at the line; not in focus per se, but at least you can spot your object then focus finer .

I can see the passengers in the cars across the marsh quite well .

LOL, these are impressively powerful! I live in a big valley and can see the detail on wind chimes hanging on the verandas of the houses on the opposite side, which are about half a mile as the crow flies.

well, we know it can't have been made after 1870, so it could well have a civil war connection as it was almost certainly around at that time. And of course it was a very useful and expensive piece of equipment that would have been highly prized and desired by any officer!

Its amazing to think how even with my small scope, the user would have been able to see the expressions on the faces of the 'enemy' long before they came into effective range of the guns.

I see a lot where the sliding eyepiece cover has been removed. Which strikes me as strange as they are captive inside the body so shouldn't fall off?
I wonder if they were deliberately removed to make useage faster?

Regards
Gene

Rick · 9th January 2009, 05:58 PM

Hi Gene,
Yes definitely; something that would be kept through more than one generation .
It could have seen service in more than one capacity .

I wonder how many scratched noses were inflicted by those shutters when the instrument was hastily put to eye .

Possibly for frequent use they were a nuisance .

edit:
Well, I just finished the cleaning and reassembly; tried it out and it's incredible .
Seriously, the depth of field is just incredible !
I understand the scribed line now; the actual focus range is an inch or so of slide on the draw .

I'll have to try stargazing on a clear night .

BTW, Is there an echo in here ??

Atlantia · 10th January 2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Hi Gene,
Yes definitely; something that would be kept through more than one generation .
It could have seen service in more than one capacity .

I wonder how many scratched noses were inflicted by those shutters when the instrument was hastily put to eye .

Possibly for frequent use they were a nuisance .

edit:
Well, I just finished the cleaning and reassembly; tried it out and it's incredible .
Seriously, the depth of field is just incredible !
I understand the scribed line now; the actual focus range is an inch or so of slide on the draw .

I'll have to try stargazing on a clear night .

BTW, Is there an echo in here ??

LOL, thats brilliant!
It still works after all these years.
Hope it deserves a promotion into the weapons collection now?

Rick · 11th January 2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

LOL, thats brilliant!
It still works after all these years.
Hope it deserves a promotion into the weapons collection now?

"You really ought to see 'em,
Their house is a museum ...."

God bless my Wife !

Atlantia · 12th January 2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

"You really ought to see 'em,
Their house is a museum ...."

God bless my Wife !

These days with minimalist styles being so in vogue, an understanding partner is worth her weight in Gold!
Or Keris' at the least

7th January 2009, 01:23 AM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Historic military Telescopes: Early 19thC Dollond I know this isn't a weapon, but these certainly were instrumental in influencing many battles, so I thought they might make an interesting aside. I want to share with you all a piece from my collection. A rare vintage pocket telescope from the beginning of the 19thC made by the most famous of makers 'Dollond'. Military personel now take for granted their incredibly complex optical devices, night vision, thermal imaging, the list is endless. but here is where 'mass produced' long range optical devices really came of age. Dollond is credited with retailing the first telescopes which did not suffer from Chromatic aberration (he is actually credited with solving the problem but in fact followed from anothers work). His 'day and night' telescopes were common military and naval equipment. Nelson used one in fact. The military significance of Dollond telescopes cannot be overstated. So, here is my little telescope, small enough to fit in a tunic pocket, and yet still powerful and clear. closed it is about 5 inches long. The 3 'drawers' are brass, with the main outer barrel being carved from wood. This type is routinely dated to 1780-1820 on websites. This type is sometimes refered to as 'army' type due to it being popular with officers of the time. Imagine the sights it could have seen! Last edited by Atlantia; 7th January 2009 at 01:55 AM.

8th January 2009, 05:42 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Is Spencer Browning a recognised London Maker ? I have an 'improved' single draw ship's model engraved with the maker name in the style of yours . Last edited by Rick; 8th January 2009 at 05:56 PM.

8th January 2009, 06:43 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Battered Here you go . Been in the family forever . Dad recovered the barrel and added turks heads . Attached Images

8th January 2009, 07:01 PM	#7
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Well Rick! Thats an impressive device! I'm sure Mr Eley willl be more or an expert on it than I, but I'll certainly give an opinion! Your Dads recovering isn't a problem, the leather looks fine, and the turks heads add to the nautical look. Apart from that it looks pretty original. So, does it work? Do you get a good clear image? It should be fairly simple to take apart and carefully clean if its a bit grubby inside. Date! Well, its a fairly complex instrument, with a leather covered brass outer barrel, the makers name looks hand engraved and is in nice script, so I'd guess at about 1840-60. Its a fine piece, very expensive in its day. And its day was a golden age! Regards Gene P.S. I really rate these early telescopes. I'm assuming yours IS nautical, and of course that was the most common use for them. Forget the Naval warships, and Just think of the other ships of the mid 19th that would have had one of these onboard (or two!) The Clippers racing across the oceans, the other trade ships, the explorers, the passenger carriers, the steamers, the river boats, every one needed a good telescope, and every time (almost) something worthy of note happened or was seen or discovered, it was seen first through the Telescope. I always think of Nelson holding the telescope to his blind eye! lol These instruments are an incredibly important part of world history. Phew, enthusiasm off Last edited by Atlantia; 8th January 2009 at 07:14 PM.

9th January 2009, 05:58 PM	#14
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Hi Gene, Yes definitely; something that would be kept through more than one generation . It could have seen service in more than one capacity . I wonder how many scratched noses were inflicted by those shutters when the instrument was hastily put to eye . Possibly for frequent use they were a nuisance . edit: Well, I just finished the cleaning and reassembly; tried it out and it's incredible . Seriously, the depth of field is just incredible ! I understand the scribed line now; the actual focus range is an inch or so of slide on the draw . I'll have to try stargazing on a clear night . BTW, Is there an echo in here ?? Last edited by Rick; 9th January 2009 at 06:48 PM.

8th January 2009, 11:30 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,089	Nice piece! As a collector of nautical/maritime/privateer pieces, I find these early telescopes fascinating. The earliest ones were just long, wooden hexigonal tubes of one piece construction. AS you pointed out, Dolland was one of the most famous (and prolific) of makers. The sailors used to call these the 'bring 'em near' for obvious reasons. Thanks for sharing this piece!

8th January 2009, 07:48 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Yes, the family was in the mercantile trade; foodstuffs . Cobb Bates and Yerxa Importers and Grocers, Boston 19thC. ; later to become S.S. Pierce .

8th January 2009, 09:49 PM	#10
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Thank you Atlantia . It does, or did 50 years ago (needs another disassembly and cleaning). Interestingly enough there is a neatly scratched or scribed ring on the eyepiece tube that may be a 'starting point' from which to begin focussing on objects a mile or so away . I wish I had the eyepiece shutter ..

9th January 2009, 04:00 AM	#11
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Rick, You are very welcome bud Is it just the little sliding cover missing? Its a nice big scope, do you think it was used on a 'family' ship? Be interesting to sight something at the range of the mark on a clear road then use the car tripometer to measure the distance! Regards Gene

9th January 2009, 03:09 PM	#12
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Yup Gene, just the eyepiece slide/shutter is missing . As far as company vessels go I have no records of that . There were 7 brothers in my family during that era (mid-late 19thC); many of them I have no information on except all 7 fought in the Civil War ; maybe there is a military connection rather than Maritime .. As for the scribed line; I live on a salt marsh about a mile wide . The tele is usable to focus when set at the line; not in focus per se, but at least you can spot your object then focus finer . I can see the passengers in the cars across the marsh quite well .