Smythian telescope, c.1824, a refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture, 50 inch focal length, and accessories

Made:: 1825-1829 in London

maker:: Thomas Charles Robinson and Charles Tulley

Smythian telescope, c.1824, a refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture and 50 inch focal length by Thomas Robinson, Portland Place, London with optics by Charles Tulley in fitted box but without equatorial mount or stand. Separate fitted box contains 6 astronomical eyepieces, terrestrial eyepiece, cometary eyepiece, filter wheel, Herschel wedge, split-lens micrometer by Dollond, double-image micrometer by Thomas Robinson and related items including an occulting bar, graticle and ring (annular) micrometer. First used by Capt. W. H. Smyth at Bedford then given by him to Dr Lee at Hartwell House in 1828, later used by Dr N R Pogson from 1857 until 1860 at the Radcliffe and Hartwell Observatories and then at the Madras Observatory, India until 1891. Presented to the British Astronomical Association by the widow of Dr C. Michie Smith.

Details

Category:: Astronomy

Object Number:: 1988-197

Materials:: case, mahogany and telescope, brass, glass

type:: refracting telescope, crystal micrometer and filar micrometer

credit:: British Astronomical Association

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Parts

Smythian telescope, refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture, 50 inch focal length

Smythian telescope, c. 1825, refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture and 50 inch focal length by Thomas Robinson, Portland Place, London with optics by Charles Tulley the elder. Fitted with adjustabe diaphragn and lens for illuminating cross-wires on micrometers and eyepieces. Equatorial mount and stand missing but hook arms and stabilising bar present along with later tube clamps.

Materials:: brass , steel and incomplete

Object Number:: 1988-197 Pt1

type:: instrument component , refracting telescope and filar micrometer

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Mahogany case for Smythian telescope

Mahogany case for Smythian telescope, c. 1825, refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture and 50 inch focal length by Thomas Robinson, Portland Place, London.

Measurements:: overall: 150 x 850 x 310 mm

Materials:: mahogany , brass , iron and incomplete

Object Number:: 1988-197 Pt2

type:: components , storage boxes and instruments

Eyepieces and other accessories in mahogany case with drawer for Smythian telescope

Eyepieces and other accessories in mahogany case with drawer for Smythian telescope, c. 1825, refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture and 50 inch focal length by Thomas Robinson, Portland Place, London. These include 6 eyepieces, a multiple lens eyepiece, a filter wheel, a eyepiece dynameter, a Herschel wedge, a reticle, a ring eyepiece, two filters and a star diagonal with speculum mirror.

Materials:: brass , glass , iron , mahogany , silk and complete

Object Number:: 1988-197 Pt3

type:: split-lens eyepiece micrometer , dynameter and eyepiece

Double-image crystal ocular micrometer, for Smythian telescope

Double-image crystal ocular micrometer by Thomas Robinson, Portland Place, London, in mahogany case, 1826. Used with the Smythian telescope a refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture and 50 inch focal length with optics by Charles Tulley.

Materials:: brass , glass , silver , mahogany and complete

Object Number:: 1988-197 Pt4

type:: instrument component and crystal micrometer

Objective lens for Smythian telescope

Objective lens by Charles Tulley the elder, c.1825 for Smythian telescope a refractor of 3 3/4 inch aperture and 50 inch focal length by Thomas Robinson, Portland Place, London.