2.25-inch refracting telescope
Date: circa 1880
Inventory Number: 5001
Classification: Telescope
Maker: Optisches Institut von Dr. Steeg & Reuter (founded 1855)
Owner: Theodore Lyman IV (1874 - 1954)
Owner: Otto Oldenberg (1888 - 1983)
User: Department of Physics, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
with telescope horizontal and closed: 39 x 24.8 x 49.5 cm (15 3/8 x 9 3/4 x 19 1/2 in.)
box: 13.5 × 60.7 × 20.1 cm (5 5/16 × 23 7/8 × 7 15/16 in.)
DescriptionThis brass refracting telescope has a quartz objective and quartz eyepieces, according to a note in the case.
The objective has an aperture of 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm). The tube is brass with a cove molding at the end before a flange. There is no dew shield present. The tube has a pressure-fitting dust cap, which is very tight. The focuser has a large knurled screw.
There are 4 eyepieces. Two are standard. The third eyepiece has a cylindrical piece of transparent material a third of the way down the tube. The material is very corroded and looks like salt. The fourth eyepiece has a Nicol prism set into cork at the end. The top of the barrel is open and has two screws for holding a missing part.
The telescope is attached by two screws to a saddle, which is part of an altazimuth mount. The mount is attached to a turned pillar on three folding cabriole legs.
The telescope has a wooden case that is fitted for it and lined in places with chamois. The case has a trade label in the lid.
Two manuscript notes are in the case.
One reads:
Second Qtz
Lens given
to Fry Jan 28/26
T. L.
The other reads:
Objective
f visible = 50.50 cm (from center of quartz)
f 3064 = 47.4 cm
Ø = 5.7 cm
O. Oldenberg
The objective has an aperture of 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm). The tube is brass with a cove molding at the end before a flange. There is no dew shield present. The tube has a pressure-fitting dust cap, which is very tight. The focuser has a large knurled screw.
There are 4 eyepieces. Two are standard. The third eyepiece has a cylindrical piece of transparent material a third of the way down the tube. The material is very corroded and looks like salt. The fourth eyepiece has a Nicol prism set into cork at the end. The top of the barrel is open and has two screws for holding a missing part.
The telescope is attached by two screws to a saddle, which is part of an altazimuth mount. The mount is attached to a turned pillar on three folding cabriole legs.
The telescope has a wooden case that is fitted for it and lined in places with chamois. The case has a trade label in the lid.
Two manuscript notes are in the case.
One reads:
Second Qtz
Lens given
to Fry Jan 28/26
T. L.
The other reads:
Objective
f visible = 50.50 cm (from center of quartz)
f 3064 = 47.4 cm
Ø = 5.7 cm
O. Oldenberg
Signedon trade card in case: Optisches Institut / von / DR. STEEG & REUTER / in / HOMBURG V. D. HÖHE. / Specialität: / Instrumente, Apparate und Präparate / zur Polarisation des Lichtes, Interferenz, / Fluorescenz, Diathermansie etc. / Hofb. SCHICK.
Inscribedin pencil inside case lid: Quartz Objective / + / Eye Pieces!
Curatorial RemarksTagged "from Lyman 10/13/64"
ProvenanceTheodore Lyman, Harvard Department of Physics; Otto Oldenberg, Harvard Department of Physics; Lyman Lab, Department of Physics, Harvard University; transfer to CHSI in 1964.