Day or night telescope

This navigational telescope has a leather-covered barrel and a single brass draw tube. The other fittings are also brass and include an objective lens cap and a pivoted eyepiece cover. The maker's name is inscribed on the draw tube as 'Dollond London', as are the words 'Day or Night', indicating that the telescope was designed for use in all light conditions.

A table of the most common signal flags is set into the barrel. This records that it was produced by 'STEBBING PORTSMOUTH, OPTICIAN &c TO THE R.Y.S.'. This may well have been produced later than the telescope - it was common to replace these removable tables so that they showed the most up-to-date codes.

Like NAV1682 and NAV1684, the telescope is said to have belonged to William Griffin, who entered the Royal Navy in 1812, becoming a Rear-Admiral in 1862.

Object Details

ID: NAV1683
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Day or night telescope
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Dollond & Aitchison
Date made: circa 1820
People: Griffin, William
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Length: 531 mm (closed with cap), 920 mm (fully extended); Diameter: 66 mm (barrel)
Parts: Day or night telescope