ANTIQUE 3 DRAW MARINE POCKET TELESCOPE Signed J.P.CUTTS LONDON 1836-1839
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SIGNED ANTIQUE EARLY VICTORIAN 3 DRAW MARINE POCKET TELESCOPE in BRASS with POLISHED MAHOGANY BARREL c.1836-1839
byJohn Priston Cutts (1787-1858)
John Priston Cutts was born in Leeds in 1787 but later served his apprenticeship at the firm of Preston & Beilby in Sheffield. He completed his apprenticeship in 1804 and set up in business shortly afterwards. For most of his life, he worked in Sheffield as an optician and instrument maker. He gained a Royal Patent to the young Queen Victoria in the 1840s.
The reason why it is possible to date this particular telescope to between 1836 and 1839 is because he opened a branch of his business in London in 1836 at 3, Crane Court, Fleet Street. By 1839, the business in London had ceased and he returned to work in Sheffield.
MAKER’S MARKS
These are neatly engraved in period cursive script to the barrel of the first draw and read as follows:
J. P Cutts / London
DESCRIPTION:
Brass tube construction with polished mahogany section as the main barrel. The barrel is brass bound at both ends to provide strength to the construction.
Brass eyepiece with swivelling cover. When removed, it provides access for cleaning to Lens 1 located in a brass cartridge. This lens looks rather like a replacement since it does not screw into the threaded tube itself but moves freely in its own barrel. Lens 2 can be seen in a fixed position lower down in the first draw. Both are intact and clear.
When the other end of the first draw is unscrewed, it provides access to Lenses 3 & 4, also located in a brass cartridge Again, both are intact and clear.
The Objective lens is 1 & 3 eighths ” in diameter. Its mount unscrews for cleaning and when it is removed, a small flake or chip is visible on the underside at the perimeter. This is not visible from the outside or when the telescope is in use. The objective lens is otherwise intact and clear. It is protected by its original, firm push-fit, brass cover.
When Draw 2 is released from Draw 3, a fixed diameter reducer can be observed in the top of the tube. When Draw 3 is released from the main barrel, a similar fixed diameter reducer is visible in the top of the tube.
CONDITION :
All brass sections are in clean and well polished condition. All tubes all move easily and there is no splitting or distortion or damage of any kind to any of the three draws.
All threads are good. The tubes move smoothly and there is very little “play”in the movement. What play there is, is limited to the connection between Draw 3 and the barrel.Those lenses present are undamaged except for a slight rim chip to the Objective lens as described above.
The focusing is fairly sharp and of a good level of magnification. It could doubtless be improved even further if Lens 1 were replaced.
It is a precision instrument in fine working order and disassembles easily for maintenance.
FAULTS:
The mahogany barrel shows age-related chipping to the original polished finish and a number of fairly small indentations. It would no doubt polish up superbly if required. Lens 1 is probably not original and replacing it would probably improve the precision of the distance focusing which is still good, even if Lens 1 is removed completely.
DIMENSIONS:
Fully retracted: 8″ / 20 cm
Fully extended: 22″ / 56cm
WEIGHT: 372g
This is a fine example of a three-draw marine telescope by a well documented Georgian & Victorian
maker who acquired a Royal Patent because of the excellence of his work. It is a very precisely designed, well crafted and compact instrument in good overall condition which would make a superb addition to any collection of period telescopes.
Please see my other listings for WW1 telescopes and earlier Georgian and Victorian telescopes.
It will be well packed and insulated to our usual high standards for fully insured delivery by Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery within the UK or by Royal Mail International Signed-for services outside the UK.
Only actual postal costs will be charged. Those shown here purely nominal. and other options may well be available. Postage to Europe, for example would be 11.10. All buyers are therefore asked to wait for an Invoice before paying. Payment by PayPal only for overseas purchases, please.
For all enquiries or further details/photos, please contact the vendor:
From within the UK 0 7557 237 539
From Overseas: 00 44 75 57 23 75 39
Category: Cameras and Photography:Telescopes and Binoculars:Telescopes
Location: Guildford
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