Refracting telescope on portable stand, 1800-1825

Refracting telescope of 3 1/4 inch aperture and 48 inch focal length by W & S Jones on an altazimuth tripod stand with a mahogany case. Accessories include, 6 eyepieces (5 astronomical & 1 terrestrial), a hook arm and finder telescope.

Dated to the first quarter of the nineteenth century, this brass telescope was made by the London instrument maker partnership of W & S Jones. The instrument has a 3 ¼-inch aperture main lens and is carried on a yoke mounting with a claw-foot tripod base. To aid the location of objects under study, the telescope is provided with a smaller finder telescope. It is also fitted with a pair of nested drawtube arms to steady the telescope whilst it is moved or stationary. Likewise, an instrument of this sort would have required at a table or other suitably stable base. A telescope this quality would have only been affordable to wealthy individual who had an interest in astronomy.