This is an exceptionally nice and large brass terrestrial sighting telescope on a carved mahogany tripod base with mechanical two-geared hand crank for elevating and lowering the instrument. We believe that the piece is of Swedish manufacture and are sure that it is completely original to its circa of 1860. The legs have fretwork carvings and heavy brass attaching hardware. The brass has a lustered polish from its many years of care and pride of ownership.
The main tube is assisted in its purpose by the small sighting scope with its independent focus rings. The primary scope has a two-draw focal apparatus with the larger on a rotation knob and the sighting piece manually adjusted to the viewer. The scope's top quality optical lens are intact. Scopes of this magnitude were prized private possessions of only the most well-to-do mariners' families, and used by government and commercial agents in the semaphore stations and lookout of the busiest harbors. Very few survive to this day, and almost none in this great of condition.
Primary Instrument Barrel Measures 46 Inches, with 62½ Inch Length Extended Overall Height to Yoke 62½ Inch Maximum, Lowered to 45½ Inches MinimumMahogany Legs Measure 37 ½ Inches for a Base Height of 35 Inches,Tripod Feet Form a 31 Inch Equilateral Triangle Base, 8 Inch Top Diameter
