- Subject
- Optical instruments
- Item type
- Object
- Makers
- C.W. Dixey
- Provenance
- Presented by Mrs. H. G. Dixey.
- Primary inscriptions
- "C. W. DIXEY, OPTICIAN to the QUEEN, New Bond Street" written around eyepiece of glasses.
- Object type
- Opera glass
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 65mm Height: 135mm Weight: 306g
- Inventory No
- 23525
Description
Opera glasses originally consisted of two parts: telescope and lens cap but lens cap has gone missing. With a tube lined on the exterior with mother of pearl. Also with mother of pearl around eye piece. Main construction appears to be copper coated with a semi-lacquered copper alloy. With copper holder within interior. With some corrosion around eye piece but otherwise in excellent condition.
A conventional multi-draw portable telescope but smaller and more compact in construction. With two positive lenses and an erecting lens system in the eye piece. This kind of instrument was used by navigators, army officers, naturalists, and surveyors.