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Antique & Scientific Instruments U.K. |
TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS
by J.B.Dancer
This rare Bayleen (blue whale filter "gills") bodied 6 draw
telescope, has the original dust cap to the objective and dust slide to the eyepiece. The first draw is engraved
in script with the maker’s name and dates to the third quarter of the 19th
century. It is 4 inches long and draws out to 16
inches at full stretch. The 2 element achromatic objective lens is just under 1
inch diameter, focusing is by the second draw and the first draw sets the
magnification of the telescope. Bayleen covered telescopes only appear once in
a while and the 6 draw pocket versions were considered the height of elegance
in Victorian society. This is the only second I have seen by Dancer.
A set of ivory trimmed opera
glasses in their original leather case, the black
inset around each eyepiece is tooled in relief "J.B.DANCER, MANCHESTER". These gold plated low
power binoculars are focused by a central thumbscrew. The magnification is
about X3 linear as they were intended for use in the theatre. The objective lenses
are just over 1 1/2 inches diameter and although the glasses work as well as
the day they were made, small cracks have appeared in the ivory over the years.
This huge 5 draw leather covered taper barrelled
telescope is just about as big as anyone could possibly hold, even on low
power, and get a steady image. The second draw is engraved in script with the maker’s name and dates to the
second half of the 19th century. It is 13 inches long and draws out to 52 inches at full stretch with the ray shade
extended. The 2 element achromatic objective (signed on
the edge of one element by Dancer in pencil) lens is just under 2 1/2 inches
diameter, focusing is by the second draw and the first draw sets the
magnification of the telescope. It has tabs for holding
a leather carrying strap and a dust slide to the eyepiece. It would originally
have been supplied with a leather cap for the objective. The optics are superb,
as you would expect from this maker.
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