Rare 3 1/2-inch Reflecting Telescope by Thomas Morton

Description:

Rare 3 1/2-inch Reflecting Telescope by Thomas Morton, Scotland, engraved on the back plate Thos Morton, Kilmarnock, with 15 1/2-inch oxidized brass body tube, lens cap, eyepiece, speculum mirror with screw-rod focusing, and geared elevation via knurled wheel on scrolling support, mounted between twin tapering pillars with finials on rotating mahogany platform with brass cabriole feet, ht. 10 in. level, (lacking primary objective).
Note: See Clarke, Morrison-Low and Simpson (1989),Brass and Glass, pp. 191 - 195.

Thomas Morton (1783-1862) was a mechanic who started his own business in 1806. In 1817 he became interested in astronomy after being asked to repair a reflecting telescope. In 1818 he built the Astronomical Observatory at Morton Place, equipping it with a Newtonian telescope and a 7-inch Gregorian telescope, and in 1835 was elected an Honourary Member of the Society of Arts for Scotland, which became the Royal Scottish Society of Arts in 1841. A 4 1/4-inch Morton reflecting telescope, sold at Christie's in April 1998, was engraved with the initials "H.M.R.S.S.A."; the absence of these initials on this telescope suggests that it was manufactured before 1841.
Estimate $2,000-4,000

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