2.75-inch refracting telescope
Date: circa 1820
Inventory Number: 5007
Classification: Telescope
Dimensions:telescope horizontal on mount: 57.2 × 43 × 112 cm (22 1/2 × 16 15/16 × 44 1/8 in.)
case: 13.5 × 113.2 × 24.5 cm (5 5/16 × 44 9/16 × 9 5/8 in.)
DescriptionThis refracting telescope has a tapered wood tube with brass fittings and a finder scope. The aperture is 2 3/4 inches.
The telescope is equiped with 4 eyepieces, 2 filters, and a dust cap for the focuser. The original objective is stored in the box and is in good condition. An Alvan Clark objective is in the tube, and was a gift to Wolcott Gibbs, the owner.
The telescope has an altazimuth mount on top of library table stand. The stand consists of a turned pillar mounted on a platform supported by three cabriole legs.
The telescope has slow-motion mechanisms to adjust the altitude and azimuth of the instrument. A stabilizing rod extends from the platform up to the eyepiece end of the tube. It's length is adjusted by rack and pinion with an ivory-headed key. There is knurled locking screw below the key. The horizontal platform is rotated with respect to the legs by means of screw turned by another key (presently missing). The screw is disengaged by means of a lever with an ivory handle.
The instrument is stored in a fitted mahogany box with the tradecard of W. & S. Jones pasted in the lid.
The manuscript with W. & S. Jones objective reads:
The old object glass of the telescope given in my Will to Alfred W. Gibbs. This was the English object glass and is good but not so good by any means as that now in telescope which is by Alvan Clark --a present to me from him.
Wolcott Gibbs
Signedon tailpiece: W. & S. JONES. 30 Holborn London
on tradecard: W. & S. JONES, / PHILOSOPHICAL, MATHEMATICAL, AND OPTICAL / INSTRUMENT MAKERS. / AT THE ARCHIMEDES, No. 30, LOWER HOLBORN, LONDON / (Nearly opposite Furnival's Inn.)
Historical AttributesThis telescope belonged to Oliver Wolcott Gibbs (1922-1908), the chemist and Harvard professor. Alvan Clark, the renowned telescope maker, was friends with Gibbs and made him a gift of a telescope objective for this instrument.
ProvenanceOwned by Professor Oliver Wolcott Gibbs, Harvard University; passed to a relative, Alfred W. Gibbs; Mrs. Lake of Dover, Delaware (daughter of Alfred W. Gibbs); gift to CHSI, 1959.