Extendable telescope with painted timber look on outer casing. telescope, navigational aides

.1) Photographic portrait of Hans Frandsen Madsen .2) Copy of a photograph of Mads Jepsen (1814-1888) & Regine Dorthee Hansdatter (1817-1879). They were the parents of Hans Frandsen Madsen, who was one of the earliest enrolments at the Ballarat School of Mines. .3) Articles on Hans Frandsen Madsen's pioneering work with telescopes, including The "Madsen Reflector", and Polishing and Figuring 18 inch glass specula by hand (Read before the Royal Society of NSW, 7 July 1886) .4) Extract of reminiscences of 90 year old Hans Madsonmadsen, hans frandsen madsen, regine dorthee hansdatter, mads jepsen madsen, ballarat school of mines alumni, telescopes, hans madsen

Owned by Captain James Clarke, master of the Cowes to Stony Point ferry service for 28 years from 1923.Black leather bound casing and strap with extendable brass telescope painted black.Capt J Clarke (crossed out) and Arthur E Woodley in gold leaf lettering on leather casing.cowes, telescope, captain james clarke, ferry, arthur woodley, stony point

This telescope was amongst various items collected from a sea dive in Port Phillip Bay. The diver was the caretaker of the Port Lonsdale Lighthouse, who dived on various wrecks in the bay during the 1960's. After the caretaker's death, his son sold off many of the shipwreck artefacts. The telescope was purchased from the caretaker's son in the 1990's by a previous owner of the Marine Shop, Queenscliff, Victoria. John Browning was particularly well known for his scientific advances in the fields of spectroscopy, astronomy, and optometry. Between 1856 and 1872, Browning acquired provisional patents for designs of numerous scientific instruments. He was also the recipient of an award at the 1862 International Exhibition held in London. Also recognised for his temperature-compensated aneroid barometer. Browning's scientific instruments were used in physics, chemistry, and biology. The products he designed and manufactured included spectroscopes, telescopes, microscopes, barometers, photometers, cameras, ophthalmologist, and electrical equipment such as electric lamps. John Browning was born around 1831 in Kent, England. His father, William Spencer Browning, was a maker of nautical instruments. John Browning's great-grandfather was also an instrument maker as well as John’s brother Samuel Browning of the firms Spencer & Browning and Spencer, Browning & Rust, who also manufactured navigational instruments. The latter firm was in operation in London from 1784 to 1840 and was succeeded by the firm of Spencer, Browning & Co. John Browning initially intended to follow the medical profession and entered Guy's Hospital, a teaching hospital and a school of medicine. Despite having passed the required examinations, however, he abandoned his plans. Instead, he apprenticed with his father, William Spencer Browning. At the same time, in the late 1840s, he was a student attending the Royal College of Chemistry several days per week. By the early 1870s, practical optics had become John Browning's primary interest, and he listed his occupation as an optician on the census records from 1871 to 1901. He was well known among London's ophthalmic surgeons for his various ophthalmic instruments. He had a large part in reforming the art of crafting spectacles. Other achievements were as an author of the book, How to Use Our Eyes and How to Preserve them by the Aid of Spectacles. Published in 1883, the book included thirty-seven illustrations, including a diagram demonstrating the anatomy of the eye. In 1895, he was one of the founders of the "British Ophthalmology" the first professional organisation for optometry. He was not only its first president but also registered as its first member so many considered him to be the first professional optometrist. Other professional organisations he belonged too was as a member of “The Aeronautical Society of Great Britain”. In 1871 constructing the first wind tunnel located at Greenwich Marine Engineering Works. He was also a member of other scientific organisations, such as the “Microscopical Society of London”, the “Meteorological Society”, and the “Royal”. Then in 1908 the company of W. Watson & Son, opticians and camera makers, took over John Browning's company since 1901 John Browning had been semi-retired but in 1908 he fully retired and moved to Bournemouth in Hampshire. He died in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1925.The telescope is significant for its association with one of the world’s leading scientific instrument makers and inventor of the 19th and early 20th century. It is believed the donation came off a wreck either in Port Philip Bay or between Point Lonsdale and the Nepean Heads making it a significant maritime historical artefact. Its provenance is good given it was taken off a wreck in this area by the Point Lonsdale lighthouse caretaker. Examples of John Browning's telescopes because of their scientific and historical importance are highly valued by collectors.Marine style single draw brass telescope with a sunshade. The single draw has no split and the second cartridge is held in a long brass tube within the single draw, mounted from the objective end. The eyepiece is flat and at the end of the first draw in a very faded engraving that is believed to read "John Browning, 63 Strand, and should read London under the word strand but this is hard to establish given the engravings condition. This interpretation of the engraving has been arrived at by examination of other John Browning telescope engraving examples."John Browning, engraved to the first tube in copper plate style "63 STRAND" Engraved under in capital textflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, port phillip bay, port lonsdale lighthouse, wreck, 1960’s diver, queenscliff marine shop, john browning, telescope, spectroscopy, optometry, scientific instruments, william spencer browning, optician, navigational instrument, microscopical society of london, aeronautical society, marine technology

W.H. Wooster was associated with the Ballarat Observatory. .1) Photograph of W.H. Wooster with the telescope at the Ballarat Observatory. .2) Head and shoulders of W.H. Woosterballarat observatory, observatory, wooster, w.h. wooster, portrait, mount pleasant

An image of W.H. Wooster with telescope, and a page copy of his handwritten notes outlining his achievements.7707.2 "Notes Grandpa has lectured scores of times in the Sch. of Mines, sometimes for one of the Professors who was ill. Also Lectured in the City Fire Brigade, Ballarat E Fire Brigade, Barkley St Wesn chap., Lydiard St. Wes. Chapl, St Peter's Church of England, Mt Pleasant Wes. Chapl., Baptist Church; & many other places. Preached i the Neil St. Wes. Chapels at Brown Hill, the Gong, Ltl Bendigo, Golden Point, Macarthur St., Mnt Pleasant, the Bible Christian Chppl., and many others. Too photos of most of the places shown in these "Ballarat Views", and many others. And laid the Foundation of the fine Municipal Observatory, in a long series of "Astronomical" and other "Scientific Notes", published in the Ballarat Courier and Ballarat Star, & occasionally in another Newspaper, which roused much public interest in Astronomy. The present official astronomer, Mr John Brittain, is my pupil in Astronomy and Microscopy, and calls me his Father in Science. W.H. Wooster."w.h. wooster, ballarat observatory, microscope, microscopy, churched, preaching, lay preacher, ballarat school of mines, ballarat field naturalists club, observatory, telescope

This telescope was amongst various items collected from a sea dive in Port Phillip Bay. The diver was the caretaker of the Port Lonsdale Lighthouse, who dived on various wrecks in the bay during the 1960's. After the caretaker's death, his son sold off many of the shipwreck artefacts. The telescope was purchased from the caretaker's son in the 1990's by a previous owner of the Marine Shop, Queenscliff, Victoria. Many companies were making scientific instruments in Liverpool. Between 1730 up too today, they manufactured spectroscopes, telescopes, microscopes, barometers, photometers, cameras, ophthalmoscopes, and electrical equipment such as electric lamps. Liverpool was a major centre for the production of scientific items rivaling Glasgow and London from 1850 to 1920. This telescope appears to be of quality manufacture but the origins can only be surmised at based on the gold embossing to the leather surrounding the main brass tube as being associated with Liverpool England. There is no maker or owners mark, so again there is no sure way to determine the year of manufacture or maker. There were many opticians and scientific instrument makers working in and around Liverpool from 1730 through too today. Also the possibility the telescope could have been made outside Liverpool overseas should not be overlooked and may have been made as a souvenir item from Liverpool from the mid to late 20th century. The size and type of telescope is a traditional type that was used for many sporting activities in the mid to late 19th century for deer stalking, bird watching, or used generally. I believe the item dates from sometime around the early to late part of the 20th century as the use of the liver bird mark became popular in 1911. It began appearing on many manufactured items of the period up too today, denoting that these items were made by companies operating in or around Liverpool England. If the item had been made by a notable firm it would have been engraved with the makers name city of origin, or owner as was the accepted practice for these items. The writer has been unable to determine if any specific company had had exclusive use of the liver bird logo as it was widely used and was not copyrighted until the Liverpool football club successfully won a court case giving them the sole rights to the trademark in 2012.The item is also an example of the shipwreck artefacts gathered along the southwest coast of Victoria. It is also a sample of scientific instruments used up to the mid 20th century.Victorian style gentleman's three draw brass telescope with machine milling surrounding the end of each tube and around the objective end. The three tube draw has no split and all three cartridges are held within the main brass tube wrapped in leather with rope bindings at both ends 5 cm in length and beginning 7 cm from the objective end. The last 2.8 cm makes up the remainder of the brass tube which has a sliding brass sunshade. The eyepiece is flat and has a protective slide over the lens aperture. Two relay lenses are missing on the ends of the second and third tube. Gold embossed into the leather an inscription “Trade the Liver Mark” also embossed in gold a depiction of the mythical liver bird, associated with the city seal of Liverpool England. flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, port phillip bay, port lonsdale lighthouse, wreck, 1960’s diver, queenscliff marine shop, liver bird, scientific instrument, telescope, three drawer telescope, liverpool, liver bird trade mark, trade mark

Achromatic Telescope, 4 fold, brass, with leather optical covers attached to each end by leather straps.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, achromatic telescope, looking, glass

Not much is known about William Rothwell other than he is recorded as working as an optician and scientific instrument maker in Manchester at 277 Deansgate Street from 1780 until 1820. An entry in the “Complete History of the Trades of Manchester” published in 1822, in which the author describes Mr William Rothwell as an intelligent young man who is conversant in several languages. He went on to describe him as an philosophical instrument maker of optical and mathematical objects, specialising in spectacles, all sorts of surveyors instruments as well as eye glasses of all types. At present that is all that is known of William Rothwell other than his products were made to the highest standards of the time. Today his products are now actively sought by collectors and are currently fetching high prices at auction sales overseas. The telescope is a rare item even though not much is known about Rothwell's history his scientific instruments and optical items fetch high prices when they become available as collectors look for rare and well made items from the 18th and 19th centuries. Its completeness and good condition make it a very good addition to the collection at Flagstaff Hill. A three draw military telescope brass with main cylinder section made of wood, main lens is removable for cleaning.Marked "Rothwell, Manchester"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, telescope, william rothwell, scientific instrument, manchester optician, optician

The theodolite is used in surveying and measures vertical and horizontal angles. Placed on a tripod, it is used to find angles in road building, tunnel alignment and other civil-engineering work. The theodolite was used at Ballarat School of Mines in the surveying course. It is possible that this instrument was imported by Flavelle Bros & Co having been made to their order by a European instrument makerTheodolite (without a matching tripod) with four leveling screws at the base. Telescope not fully rotatable, ends can be interchanged. Underslung levelling bubbletheodolite, surveying, european instrument, importers, ballarat school of mines, flavelle bros & co, measuring angles, road building, civil engineering

George Evans is the man in the photograph. He arrived in Hobart from England on 1st September 1825 and later came to Victoria in 1836.With a flock of sheep he squatted on land along the Jacksons Creek valley north of Sunbury and built his homestead (known as Emu Bottom) on his holding.George Evans was one of the first European Settlers to take up land along the Jacksons Creek in Sunbury.A non-digital sepia studio photograph of a bearded man sitting on a chair and holding a telescope across his lap.The photograph is mounted on cream cardboard.george evans, emu bottom, squatters

Frame timber with no glass front, rear plywood. Square black &white photo of a WWI soldier looking through a telescope, sitting on ammunition boxes in a muddy trench. Photo top right: “IDA POST” Frame bottom left: “E1834” (maybe an AWM collection number) Frame bottom centre: “Observation post, in the Ploegsteert Sector, Belgium, Jan 1918”brsl, smirsl, trench

An octant is an astronomical instrument used in measuring the angles of heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon and stars at sea in relation to the horizon. This measurement could then be used to calculate the altitude of the body measured, and then the latitude at sea could also be calculated. The angle of the arms of an octant is 45 degrees, or 1/8 of a circle, which gives the instrument its name. Two men independently developed the octant around 1730: John Hadley (1682–1744), an English mathematician, and Thomas Godfrey (1704–1749), a glazier in Philadelphia. While both have a legitimate and equal claim to the invention, Hadley generally gets the greater share of the credit. This reflects the central role that London and the Royal Society played in the history of scientific instruments in the eighteenth and nineteenth century's. There were also two others who are attributed to having created octanes during this period, Caleb Smith, an English insurance broker with a strong interest in astronomy (in 1734), and Jean-Paul Fouchy, a mathematics professor and astronomer in France (in 1732) In 1767 the first edition of the Nautical Almanac tabulated lunar distances, enabling navigators to find the current time from the angle between the sun and the moon. This angle is sometimes larger than 90°, and thus not possible to measure with an octant. For that reason, Admiral John Campbell, who conducted shipboard experiments with the lunar distance method, suggested a larger instrument and the sextant was developed. From that time onward, the sextant was the instrument that experienced significant development and improvements and was the instrument of choice for naval navigators. The octant continued to be produced well into the 19th century, though it was generally a less accurate and less expensive instrument. The lower price of the octant, including versions without a telescope, made it a practical instrument for ships in the merchant and fishing fleets. One common practice among navigators up to the late nineteenth century was to use both a sextant and an octant. The sextant was used with great care and only for lunar sightings while the octant was used for routine meridional altitude measurements of the sun every day. This protected the very accurate and pricier sextant while using the more affordable octant for general use where it performs well. The invention of the octant was a significant step in providing accuracy of a sailors latitude position at sea and his vessels distance from land when taking sightings of land-based landmarks.Octant with metal handle, three different colored shades are attached, in wooden wedge-shaped box lined with green felt. Key is attached. Two telescope eyepieces are in box. Some parts are missing. Oval ink stamp inside lid of box, scale is graduated to 45 degrees. Ink stamp inside lid of box "SHIPLOVERS SOCIETY OF VICTORIA. LIBRARY"instrument, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, octant, navigation, nautical instrument, navigation instrument, john hadley, sextant, astronomical instrument

In 1941, the scientific instrument manufacturing firms of  Henry Hughes & Son Ltd, London, England, and  Kelvin Bottomley & Baird Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, came together to form Kelvin & Hughes Ltd. Kelvin Company History: The origins of the company lie in the highly successful and strictly informal relationship between William Thomson (1824-1907), Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow University from 1846-1899 and James White, a Glasgow optical maker. James White (1824-1884) founded the firm of James White, an optical instrument maker in Glasgow in 1850 and was involved in supplying and mending apparatus for Thomson university laboratory and working with him on experimental constructions. White was declared bankrupt in August 1861 and released several months later. In 1870, White was largely responsible for equipping William Thomson laboratory in the new University premises at Gilmore hill. From 1876, he was producing accurate compasses for metal ships to Thomson design during this period and this became an important part of his business in the last years of his life. He was also involved in the production of sophisticated-sounding machinery that Thomson had designed to address problems encountered laying cables at sea, helping to make possible the first transatlantic cable connection. At the same time, he continued to make a whole range of more conventional instruments such as telescopes, microscopes and surveying equipment. White's association with Thomson continued until he died. After his death, his business continued under the same name, being administered by Matthew Edwards (until 1891 when he left to set up his own company. Thomson who became Sir William Thomson and then Baron Kelvin of Largs in 1892, continued to maintain his interest in the business after James White's death. In 1884 raising most of the capital needed to construct and equip new workshops in Cambridge Street, Glasgow. At these premises, the company continued to make the compass Thomson had designed during the 1870s and to supply it in some quantity, especially to the Admiralty. At the same time, the firm became increasingly involved in the design, production and sale of electrical apparatus. In 1899, Lord Kelvin resigned from his University chair and became, in 1900, a director in the newly formed limited liability company Kelvin & James White Ltd which had acquired the business of James White. At the same time Kelvin's nephew, James Thomson Bottomley (1845-1926), joined the firm. In 1904, a London branch office was opened which by 1915 had become known as Kelvin, White & Hutton Ltd. Kelvin & James White Ltd underwent a further change of name in 1913, becoming Kelvin Bottomley & Baird Ltd. Hughes Company History: Henry Hughes & Sons were founded in 1838 in London as a maker of chronographic and scientific instruments. The firm was incorporated as “Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd” in 1903. In 1923, the company produced its first recording echo sounder and in 1935 a controlling interest in the company was acquired by S Smith & Son Ltd resulting in the development and production of marine and aircraft instruments. Following the London office's destruction in the Blitz of 1941, a collaboration was entered into with Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd resulting in the establishing “Marine Instruments Ltd”. Following the formal amalgamation of Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd and Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd in 1947 to form Kelvin & Hughes Ltd. Marine Instruments Ltd then acted as regional agents in the UK for Kelvin & Hughes Ltd who were essentially now a part of Smith's Industries Ltd founded in 1944 and the successors of S. Smith & Son Ltd. Kelvin & Hughes Ltd went on to develop various marine radar and echo sounders supplying the Ministry of Transport, and later the Ministry of Defence. The firm was liquidated in 1966 but the name was continued as Kelvin Hughes, a division of the Smiths Group. In 2002, Kelvin Hughes continues to produce and develop marine instruments for commercial and military. G. Falconer Company History: G Falconer (Hong Kong Ltd) appear to have had a retail presence in Hong Kong since 1885, according to the company website, and currently have a shop in the Peninsula Hotel. G Falconer was the Hong Kong selling agent for several British companies. Ross Ltd of 111 New Bond St London was one and the other was Kelvins Nautical Instruments. Falconers were primarily watchmakers, jewellers and diamond merchants.They were also agents for Admiralty Charts, Ross binoculars and telescopes, and sold English Silverware and High Class English Jewellery. In 1928 the company was operating from the Union Building opposite the Hong Kong general post office. It is unclear if the item is an original Sextant made by Kelvin prior to his amalgamation with Henry Hughes & Sons in 1941 as Kelvin appears to have only made compasses up to this date. If the Sextant can be established that it was made by Kelvin then it is very significant and a rare item made for and distributed through their Hong Kong selling agents G Falconer Ltd. There are many Sextants advertised for sale stating "Kelvin & Hughes 1917 model sextant". These can be regarded as replicas as the company was not formed until 1941 and production of marine instruments was not fully under way until after the war in 1947. Further investigation needs to be undertaken to accurately determine the provenance of this item. As the writer currently has the impression that the subject object was possibly made by Kelvin and Hughes in the mid to late 20th century or is a replica made by an unknown maker in the late 1970s. Purchased as an exhibition of marine navigational instruments for the Flagstaff Hill museum. The Sextant is a brass apparatus with filters and telescope lens, and comes with a wooden felt lined storage box. It is a doubly reflecting navigation instrument that measures the angular distance between two visible objects. The primary use of a sextant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation.G Falconer and Co. Hong Kong (retailers of nautical equipmentflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sextant, kelvin & hughes ltd, hong kong, navigational instrument, g falconer, mariner's quadrants

This instrument was one of the type used for training night navigation at the Nhill Air SchoolBlack metal instrument with pivot points and white markings to 360 degrees. Telescope sighting piece and bubble level gauges and screw adjusters. Includes separate sight original fitting.AM Astro Compass Mk.II, REF 6A/1174, 4C astro compass, compass, instrument, navigation, cramer

This instrument is the type used in the Nhill Air School navigation trainingBlack metal instrument with pivot points and white markings to 360 degrees. Telescope sighting piece and bubble level gauges and screw adjusters. Includes separate sight original fitting.AM, Astro Compass Mk.Ii, 6A/1174O, 4Pastro compass, navigation, instrument

Telescope stand, 4 legged adjustable stand with joining wooden bar. Adjustment made by loosening wing nuts. Has "W D McDonald" written faintly on cross bar.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Faucet Telescope Obtruator Gentio-Urinary

Spyglasses were popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuryGilt brass 5 draw spyglass or small monocular telescope. Foliate and floral decoration around eyepiece, ribbed casing with suspension ring. 5 draw telescopic action extends the spyglass for use.vision, optical devices, fashion

Frank Wright was a renoun resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia. He died on 16 November 1970.Black and white photograph of a man standing against a railing near a terrestrial telescope at a viewing spot overlooking a pine tree clad terrain. The man who is dressed i a suit, with a briefcase beside him is Frank Wright. frank wright, terrestrial telescope, composer, musician, adjudicator

Opera Glasses came into existence as a result of a long line of inventions, and further improvements upon those inventions. The process started in the year 1608 when a Dutch optician by the name of Hans Lipperhey developed the first pair of binoculars with a magnification capability of X3. Less than a year later, a well-known inventor and philosopher by the name of Galileo developed what became known as the Galilean telescope. Advertisements were first found for opera glasses and theatre binoculars in London as early as 1730 in the form of a long collapsible telescope. The "Opera Glass" as it was referred to; was often covered in enamel, gems, ivory, or other art and paintings. For almost 100 years opera glasses existed merely as telescopes. In Vienna, in 1823 the first binocular opera glasses and theatre binoculars began to appear. They were two simple Galilean telescopes with a bridge in the centre, each telescope focused independently from the other by extending or shortening the telescope until the desired focus was achieved, which was useful, yet very cumbersome. Two years later in Paris, Pierre Lemiere improved on this design and created a centre focus wheel. This allowed the focusing of both telescopes together. After this development, opera glasses and theatre binoculars grew in popularity because of the superior view they facilitated in opera and theatre houses. The beautiful design of the glasses themselves also added appeal to the opera-going crowd. By the 1850's opera glasses and theatre, glasses had become a must-have fashion accessory for all opera and theatergoers.Not very significant as not associated with a historic event or person and made during the first half of the 20th Century and many are still available and easily sourced.Vintage Pair of Opera Glasses, with cow bone barrels and eyepieces, both barrel pieces have split in them, both metal end barrels each have a minor dent, optics are pretty clear no mould although have very minor dust spots inside, they look like they were gilded at some point but most of this has rubbed off glasses have a black leather case with blue lining. No markings whatsoever anywhereflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, binoculars, opera glasses, theatre glasses, optical instrument, cow bone

Opera Glasses came into existence as a result of a long line of inventions, and further improvements upon those inventions. The process started in the year 1608 when a Dutch optician by the name of Hans Lipperhey developed the first pair of binoculars with a magnification capability of X3. Less than a year later, a well-known inventor and philosopher by the name of Galileo developed what became known as the Galilean telescope. Advertisements were first found for opera glasses and theatre binoculars in London as early as 1730 in the form of a long collapsible telescope. The "Opera Glass" as it was referred to; was often covered in enamel, gems, ivory, or other art and paintings. For almost 100 years opera glasses existed merely as telescopes. In Vienna, in 1823 the first binocular opera glasses and theatre binoculars began to appear. They were two simple Galilean telescopes with a bridge in the centre, each telescope focused independently from the other by extending or shortening the telescope until the desired focus was achieved, which was useful, yet very cumbersome. Two years later in Paris, Pierre Lemiere improved on this design and created a centre focus wheel. This allowed the focusing of both telescopes together. After this development, opera glasses and theatre binoculars grew in popularity because of the superior view they facilitated in opera and theatre houses. The beautiful design of the glasses themselves also added appeal to the opera-going crowd. By the 1850's opera glasses and theatre, glasses had become a must-have fashion accessory for all opera and theatregoers. A vintage pair of 1920s opera glasses probably made in France by an unknown maker the item is significant due to it's provenance that can be traced and it's completeness as a useful social item and fashion accessory used by theatergoers from the mid 19th century and well into the 20th century. Some people still use modern variants of theater glasses today to improve their enjoyment of the theater.Both glasses and case are covered with black and white snake skin. Case lined with purple velvet, and has brass closure clip.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, opera glasses, serpentine opera glasses, binoculars, accessories, optical instrument, scientific instrument, theater glasses, french opera glasses, hans lipperhey

Theodolite with internal focussing. One plate bubble level. Three levelling screws. Engraved. "Crosshair" and stodia lines. Aladide levelling bubble with top mirror. Fully rotatable telescope with gunsight. Fits tripod Catalogue Number 4107.scientific instruments, theodolite, e.r. watts & son ltd