Telescope by Wray, c 1875, on equatorial mounting with box of accessories and case.

Telescope by Wray, c 1875, complete on equatorial mounting with box of accessories and case.

Wray was a Solicitor, then optician, amateur astronomer then photographic lens manufacturer. His interest and the products he made reflected the growing Victorian interest. He made telescopes from 1850.

Unlike his predecessors, Wray’s objects were made and promoted for the use of amateurs, in their homes. He then leveraged his reputation as an esteemed astronomical optician to begin making photographic lenses from 1880 onwards. After his death, Wray (Optical Works) Ltd, the company that evolved from William Wray’s original business, continued making photographic lenses and cameras until 1971.

Wray became famous for the quality of his astronomical equipment. He won a prize in 1862 at the Great International Exhibition for his lens finder, on the 20-inch Buckingham telescope, one of the two largest working refracting telescopes in the world at the time.

It is likely that the barrel and pier for this telescope were made by other manufactures and then rebadged by Wray. The brand Wray was then used for the telescope in its entirety as the company to have sold it. For this telescope J. H. Steward contributed the governor.