1.5-foot Gregorian reflecting telescope
Date: 1752-1774
Inventory Number: DW0812
Classification: Telescope
Maker: Edward Nairne (1726 - 1806)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
telescope horizontal: 39.7 × 25.2 × 57 cm (15 5/8 × 9 15/16 × 22 7/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: three leg clamps (with screws) for earthquake mitigation during exhibition at Getty Museum (stored in small box alongside telescope)
Bibliography:
Devices of Wonder: From the World in a Box to Images on a Screen
Description:
Gregorian reflecting telecope of brass on library stand with folding legs. All optics present. Dust cap for tube and eyepiece have knurling in later style and may be replacements.
Aperture is approximately 3 inches and focal length 18 inches.
The maker's name--Nairne London--is engraved in large italic letters on the top of the telescope tube.
Aperture is approximately 3 inches and focal length 18 inches.
The maker's name--Nairne London--is engraved in large italic letters on the top of the telescope tube.
Signedon top of barrel: Nairne London
Historical AttributesThis was a favorite telescope of Mr. Wheatland, which he kept at his apartment in Bedford, MA until close to the time of his death.
ProvenanceDavid P. Wheatland, Bedford, MA; gift to CHSI, November 1991.
Published ReferencesBarbara Maria Stafford and Frances Terpak, Devices of Wonder: From the World in a Box to Images on a Screen (Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute, 2001), 367, no. 17.
This instrument was studied by a group of students for the course Sophomore Tutorial (Spring 2012), Department of the History of Science, Prof. Anne Harrington.
The result of their week-long investigation for this object can be seen on the following website.
The Software used is courtesy of VoiceThread.