Telescope

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Telescope

Entry/Object ID

2006.13.2

Description

Brass spyglass, different sections unscrew but it does not extend, small metal cover built in over eyepiece with small metal rod to move the cover. It has been cleaned with brass cleaner in the past and some of the cleaning residue is still present in the seams.

Dimensions

Length

6-1/4 in

Diameter

1-1/2 in

Material

brass, Glass

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Telescopes are optical devices used to magnify and enhance the view of distant objects. First introduced in the early seventeenth century, they soon became widely sought after by sea captains, military commanders, and astronomers. Most early telescopes were made of brass and mahogany, with two to three smaller brass tube extensions. This brass telescope was owned Captain Tristram Jordan (1798-1856) of Saco, the master of the brig Diligence.