Mid 19th Century Achromatic Telescope by Lennie of Edinburgh
This is a medium sized portable
telescope made primarily terestrial use by Lennie of Edinburgh. James Lennie
was working as an optician and instrument maker at 14 Leith Street, Edinburgh,
from 1840 until his death in 1854. His widow Eliza carried on the business
until 1857 when she moved to 46 Princes Street and then traded in her own name
until 1901. The Achromatic Objective lens is shown above in its brass
surround. A cover of a price list of E. Lennie shows that they sold achromatic telescopes.
The collapsed telescope is shown above. The barrel is made of brass,
which is covered in mahogany (although i must admit the photographs make the
wood slightly brighter than it really is). You will notice from most of these
photographs that the knurling is of a high standard.
Above the 1st draw is shown. It is engraved:
Lennie, Edinburgh
This engraving is of a typical 1840s - 1850s hand engraved style.
The rotary style shutter is shown in its two extreme postions above.
It runs smoothly, but this does mean that it will sometimes close whilst in use
making the telescope appear as though it doesn't work! Rotary style shutters
are not as common as shutters that slide within parallel "rails".
Here the telescope is shown fully extended. It has a total of three draws, and measures
23 inches when extended and 8 inches when collapsed. The objective lens is 1 3/8 inches in diameter.
