GIANT SHIP
CAPTAIN’S SINGLE DRAW TELESCOPE
English, Ca1800 Unsigned

Presented is a fine old British single draw telescope designed for use aboard ship by the
ship’s master, with an open length of over 54 inches. It is of a size favored by the British Admiralty. This one
has the traditional brass hardware consisting of a brass collar extending back 2 1/8 inches from the front lens and a
similar collar 2 1/2 inches at the rear of the Mahogany tube. The brass tube or draw, when fully extended, adds an additional
8 3/4 inches to its closed length of 45 1/2 inches. The clear colored, large size objective lens is 66 mm in
diameter, and when coupled with the original optics, displays the image in an upright orientation. There is no evidence that
a dust cap over the front lens was ever fitted, and the rear lens has the sliding style cover.  

Front and rear lenses of telescope and shown with late 18th C. octant

 

Telescopes of this size are rarely found today and make a wonderful
decorating item on a wall or resting on a long table.

CONSTRUCTION:
It’s tubing is of heavy brass with knurled caps which join the metal work’s finely threaded ends. The
central tube is made of Mahogany where there is a single seam in the wood showing a hand fitted overlap.
The obverse has only minor handling marks of age. The front and rear lens appear to be uncoated and are housed in screw in
mounts. A second group of lenses is fitted to the rear inside end of the wood barrel. Unless the user was tall and strong,
this 3 pound telescope may best have been used with a person holding it while standing in front.

 

 

The backside showing where the Mahogany joins

CONDITION: Expect to find the scrape
marks where the draw was pulled out and pushed in, and the natural marks of handling along the Mahogany barrel.
At the seam, there is a small loss of wood, but nothing out of the ordinary. The appearance gives a lovely rich
contrast to the instrument, and indicates this to be in its original, untouched condition. There are no dents or chips to
the uncoated lenses, but there are some small surface scratches on the front and tiny spots on the rear of
the objective lens. Overall, everything seems to be in good operating condition on this well made
200 year old antique scope.

DIMENSIONS:

45
1/2 long closed           8 3/4 draw   54 1/4 total length
Objective Lens 66 mm or 2 19/32“       Ocular lens 10 mm 13/32“
Full Diameter front 81.43mm or 3 13/64“ tapering to 54mm or 2 1/8“
Weight 3 lbs 1 oz

 

 

MAKER’S MARKINGS: None

Telescopes of this size are rare
to find today and make an attractive accent piece on a wall or lying on a long table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

College of Optical Sciences,
The University of Arizona, 

 

http://www.optics.arizona.edu/antiques/Telescope/Catalogue/T12/T12.htm

 

INSURED SHIPPING to 48 contiguous States $45.00.