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A very rare 3-inch refracting night telescope from T. Harris & Sonn. On the brass eyepiece tube is engraved; T. Harris & Son London” Night Glass ' 
The telescope has a mahogany tube and is mounted on a tripod of unusual design with a swivel mechanism for lateral displacement. (Turn wheel may have had an aluminium additive repair to the handle axis)

 A Night Glass-telescope is specifically designed to use at night or in poor lighting conditions. These telescopes were used for astronomical observations, mainly for sightings of the moon.

The telescope has a large objective lens to catch as much light as possible. 
The telescope is non-achromatic and only has an objective lens and an eyepiece and provides, if you look through it, a reverse image.
The reason that such telescopes have no extra lenses to correct the reverse image, is that the more lenses a telescope has, the more light you lose. The reverse image is typical of night telescopes.

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has a smaller copy of a similar telescope of the same maker, this is a so-called handheld telescope, inventory number NAV1603.

T.Harris &Sonn:
Probably a collaboration of father Thomas Harris (circa 1750-1827) and his son Thomas Harris (II) who died in 1808 or William Harris who in 1808 worked in partnership with his father and later took over the business after his father's death circa 1827.

 Thomas Harris (I) & Son (Thomas Harris II) partnership active (1802-1808) on 140 Fleet Street London.

 Thomas Harris (I) and William Harris partnership active 1806/1808-1810 on 20 Duke Street, Bloomsbury and 1810-1817 on 30 Hyde Street Bloomsbury.

This night telescope is probably not much later than 1810 and can even be slightly earlier.  
This type of telescopes is extremely rare. The reason for this is probably that in the course of the time these are discarded or destroyed as a non-functioning instrument because of the inverted image. This telescope should therefore not be confused with the very different night-and day telescopes which are achromatic and are still very frequent.

Gloria Clifton (1995) Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550–1851 (London: National Maritime Museum, page 126.

E. G. R Taylor (1966) The mathematical practitioners of Hanoverian England, 1714-1840 page. 423.

Condition:

The original objective lens has a kind of weathering on the edge of the lens. The eyepiece has a small dent in the copper and the eyepiece lens has a chip on the edge of the lens. Weathering and damage do not have a significant influence on the image and the visibility of the telescope, see also photo 29. And therefore gives a spectacular sharp image of the moon at night.
The mahogany tube has some old repairs of cracks in the wood. Please also see the photos for the condition.

Telescope length 85 cm

Diameter 8 cm / 3 inch

Tripod height 130 cm

Weight 6.5 kg

Telescope and tripod are carefully packaged and sent by registered mail. Because of its dimensions the telescope can only be shipped within Europe.

England

A Rare Thomas Harris & Son 3-inch Astronomical Refracting Night Telescope - Brass, Wood - circa 1810

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A Rare Thomas Harris & Son 3-inch Astronomical Refracting Night Telescope - Brass, Wood - circa 1810

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Antiques & Classic Furniture

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

A Rare Thomas Harris & Son 3-inch Astronomical Refracting Night Telescope - Brass, Wood - circa 1810

Popular in Antiques & Classic Furniture

1986 objects

Related collections