Telescope by Galileo (replica)

Astronomy

1610; 1923

Facsimile of telescope by Galileo with main tube measuring 2-foot, 8 1/2-inches and magnification of 21 times. Made by Cipriani and purchased from the Museo di Fisica e Storia Naturale, Florence, Italy in 1923.

Isaac Newton’s reflecting telescope (replica)

Astronomy

1668; 1924

Replica of Newton's first reflecting telescope made in 1668 and now in the possession of the Royal Society of London. Made for the Science Museum in 1924 by Mr F.L. Agate

Caroline Herschel's telescope, 1795-1816

Astronomy

1795-1825

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6-inch diameter speculum mirror of 7-foot focal length with black painted deal tube and altazimuth stand plus accessories

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel

Astronomy

1783-1785

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter speculum mirror of 7-foot focal length with mahogany tube and altazimuth stand; includes accessories and a pamphlet of directions for use. Telescope made by Herschel for his friend Sir William Watson in Bath, 1783-1785.

Refracting telescope with achromatic lens, made by the Dollond family

Optics

1760-1775

Achromatic refracting telescope for terrestrial use, with an optical lens diameter of 1.4 inches, and focal length 30 inches, by Dollond, London, 1760-1775

Telescope by Christopher Cock

Optics

1673

Refracting five-draw telescope made by Christopher Cock, Long Acre, London, 1673. Inscribed ‘Christopher Cock Londini 1673’. The tube is decorated in gold designs on red vellum and features a royal coat of arms.

Telescope by John Marshall

Optics

1685-1695

Refracting seven-draw telescope made by John Marshall, Ludgate Street, London, 1685-1695.

Telescope by John Yarwell.

Optics

1685-1695

Refracting eight-draw telescope made by John Yarwell, Ludgate Street, London, 1685-1695. Inscribed ‘'John Yarwell, Fecit’. The tube is decorated in gold designs on green vellum and features a royal coat of arms.

One cap, oxidized, for telescope

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1790-1819

1 Cap oxidized, for telescope

Walnut and brass model of the "Great Paris Telescope"

Astronomy

1898-1900

Walnut and brass scale model (1:50 approx) of the 'Great Paris Telescope' exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition, a stationary 1.25 metre refracting telescope (57 metres long) with a 2 metre mirror siderostat.

Hadley's Gregorian reflecting telescope, c.1740

Astronomy

1740-1744

Gregorian reflecting telescope, said to have made by John Hadley in 1726, although stylistic features would suggest a later date of c.1740. The telescope has a 2-inch metal speculum mirror with a focal length of 14 inches and a sharkskin covered brass tube with metal case.

Gregorian reflecting telescope, 1748-1788

Astronomy

1748-1788

Gregorian telescope with 3-inch speculum mirror, tube stopper and 2 eyepieces by Thomas Short, London in case.

Model (scale 1:200) of the Jodrell Bank Lovell Telescope

Astronomy

1957 (original); 1961 (model)

Model (scale 1:200) of Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope.

Military sighting telescope.

Optics

1916

Brass military sighting telescope (machine gun?), made by W. Ottway & Co. Ltd, Ealing, London and supplied by Vickers Limited, England, 1916.

Gregorian reflecting telescope

King George III

Gregorian telescope

Telescope

Optics

1807-1838

Telescope by Utzschneider and Fraunhofer, Munich, Germany c. 1820. Objective lens (5.3cm) slightly scratched, no cap, one rim on draw tube missing

Adams's New Patent Portable Telescope

Optics

1734-1795

Non-achromatic (Galilean type) folding (9-draw) spyglass telescope with leather covered silver-plated brass tube, by George Adams the elder, 60 Fleet St., London, England, 1734-1795. Marked as ‘Adams’s New Patent Portable Telescope’, fitted with 1 7/8-inch objective lens and sliding eyepiece lens cap.

Stereoscopic telescope, part sectioned

Optics

Stereoscopic telescope, engraved "C.P. Goerz, Berlin", "SF.09, no.1469" "Klemme losen bevor arme bewegt werden"

Photographic print of Herschel's Forty-Foot Telescope, 1890

Astronomy

1890

Photographic print of William Herschel's 40-foot telescope at Slough, in frame made from mahogany ladder rungs from the mounting of the 20-foot telescope used at Slough by William and at the Cape by John Herschel. Printed in 1890, one of 25 prints made from the first permanent negative taken by Sir John F.W. Herschel in 1839.

Franks Telescope

Scientific Instruments & Research

1815-1825

Six draw refracting telescope by Jacob Franks.

Octagonal wooden telescope

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1772-1773

Octagonal wooden telescope with slot down one side and moveable eyepice, unsigned, United Kingdom, made by James Watt, 1772.

Dall-Kirkham reflecting telescope, 1960-1975

Astronomy

1960-1975

Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain reflecting telescope of folding design, aperture 3.25 inches, its mirror is chipped, plus spare mirror (also chipped), in carrying pouch

Varley's graphic telescope

Optics

1810-1820

Varley's graphic telescope, Varley type, by Cornelius Varley, London, England, early 19th century.

Telescope in scioptic ball

King George III

Telescope in scioptic ball

Telescope stand

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1790-1819

Stand for octagonal wooden telescope, unsigned, United Kingdom, 1790-1818.

Incomplete aerial telescope, 1686-1691

Astronomy

1686-1691

Selection of components for Huygens's 210-Foot aerial telescope. The objective lens for the instrument has been retained by the Royal Society along with 2 other Huygens lenses. The component parts consist of an iron cylinder with wooden spar to carry the main object glass lens along with 4 eyepieces of 10 inch, 7 1/2 inch, 6 inch and 4 1/8 inch focal lengths.

Galilean telescope

Optics

1601-1700

Galilean telescope, small size, with gilded brass fittings, shagreen decorated tube, and two lens shutters, unsigned, European, 1601-1700.

Galilean telescope

Optics

1770-1780

Galilean telescope (spyglass) with achromatic object glass, shagreen tube and silver fittings, by ... ldes Porte(r?), Paris, France, c. 1775 (B793). Fitted with multi-power eyepiece and shutter. Dust-cap for object glass missing.

Cornelius Varley's Patent Graphic Telescope

Art

1811-1812

Trade card: Advertisement for Cornelius Varley's Patent Graphic Telescope. Printed for J. Booth, Duke Street, Portland Place [London], n.d. [1811-12?]. 22.5x14cm, conserved backed and edged to 25.2x16.7cm. Text description and List of Prices. C. Varley, Inventor and Patentee, noted then at 228 Tottenham Court Road. [Patent 3430, 5 April 1811] (Calv. 415) (C.C. 139)

Folding telescope designed by Horace Dall

Astronomy

1960-1975

Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain reflecting telescope of folding design, aperture 6 inches, in carrying pouch

Gregorian reflecting telescope

Astronomy

1817-1862

Gregorian reflecting telescope of 6 inch aperture and 30 inch focal length by Thomas Morton, Kilmarnock, on an altazimuth mounting with a table top stand.

Maritime spyglass telescope

Optics

1775-1850

Maritime spyglass telescope, with octagonal mahogany tube, brass fitting and shutters on both eyepiece and object lenses, unsigned, European, 1775-1850.

Telescope ear trumpet

Audiology

Telescope ear trumpet

Cassegrain reflecting telescope, 1762-1774

Astronomy

1762-1774

Cassegrain reflecting telescope of 6 inch aperture by Jesse Ramsden, London on an adjustable equatorial mounting with 2 spirit levels and 3 levelling screws. Accessories include, a filar micrometer, 3 small speculum mirrors, 3 eyepieces [1 by Nairne & Blunt], 2 adjustor keys and a finder telescope.

Component of refracting telescope

Astronomy

1781-1791

Component of refracting telescope of 4.1-inch aperture, on an English type equatorial mounting, commissioned by Sir George Shuckburgh from Jesse Ramsden in 1781, though not completed until 1791

Component of refracting telescope

Astronomy

1781-1791

Component of refracting telescope of 4.1-inch aperture, on an English type equatorial mounting, commissioned by Sir George Shuckburgh from Jesse Ramsden in 1781, though not completed until 1791

Small reflecting Gregorian telescope

Optics

1735-1806

Small reflecting Gregorian telescope, engraved Thomas Ribright, London Fecit, Brass caps both ends. [by J Ribright, in case - see note]

Polyoptic telescope

King George III

Polyoptic telescope

Small pocket telescope by Dollond, London, England

Optics

Small pocket telescope by Dollond, London, England, c. 1770. Achromatic Galilean type with screwed cap. Only one power, magnifying about five times. Portion of brass edging missing

Gregorian reflecting telescope, 1734-1772

Astronomy

1734-1750

Gregorian reflecting Telescope of 2 3/4 inch aperture by George Adams, London with a shagreen covered tube on an altazimuth mounting with a folding claw foot tripod and wooden case.

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope

Space Technology

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Spyglass telescope in leather case.

Optics

1816-1830

Hand held spyglass refracting telescope with decorative plastic covering (later addition), in leather case (one end missing), by Alexander Mackenzie, 15 Cheapside, City of London, England, 1816-1830,

Brass Gregorian reflecting telescope by George Ada

Astronomy

1734-1796

Brass Gregorian reflecting telescope by George Adams, London on altazimuth mount with claw foot stand.

Terrestrial refracting telescope

King George III

Terrestrial telescope

Gregorian reflecting telescope

King George III

Gregorian telescope

Pocket spyglass telescope

Optics

1800-1819

Pocket spyglass telescope with decorated gilted brass tube, by Matthew Berge, London, England, 1800-1819.

Four brass telescope eye pieces

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1790-1819

4 Brass telescope eye pieces

Zinc telescope, with brass eyepiece

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1790-1819

1 Zinc telescope, with brass eyepiece

Gregorian reflecting telescope

Astronomy

1740-1780

Gregorian reflecting telescope of 2 1/2 inch aperture and 17 inch focal length, unsigned, on an altazimuth mounting with a folding claw tripod stand.

Wooden hand held telescope

Optics

1850-1924

Hand held telescope, wood and glass, made 1850-1924 (Wellcome No. B864)