85 85.
A RARE RAND-PATENT NAVAL AND MILITARY GUNNERY ORDNANCE TELESCOPE BY WILLIAM WATKINS, LONDON, CIRCA 1799
the 35in. telescope comprising a tapering mahogany tube with objective cap, inset ivory note plaque, gilt-brass cuff embossed with the Royal arms and inscribed By The King’s Patent rotating to reveal printed distance tables, single draw signed, numbered and inscribed by the eye cup 29 C. Rands Patent / Made & Sold by Wm. WATKINS / St. James’s Strt. LONDON together with engraved calculation instructions, internal crosshair fine-screw adjustment knob and external Vernier scale with folding magnifier, contained in original fitted mahogany box of issue with lock and securing hooks -- 36in. (91.5cm.) diameter
William Watkins worked from 1784-1809 and was located at 22 St. James’s Street at this date.
Designed b y sometime school teacher, book seller, bankrupt and surveyor Cater Rand (1749-1825) in 1799 to improve and facilitate range setting for heavy military and navy guns, the ‘Rand Patent’ Telescope was, according to the patent, designed for measuring distances and the extension of objects at sight. By moving the two pairs of crosshairs together and apart, the distance of the object can be found from the angle of the crosshairs in a single observation -- provided the size and height of the object is known. If, on the other hand, the distance is known, the size and height of an object can be found using two observation points by means of a micrometrical adjustment device on top. Whilst there’s no reason to doubt their efficacy, their comparative expense and complex method of use doesn’t seem to have made them universally popular and although one such telescope, lacking box but also made by Watkins, is on display at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, very few others are known, with only one other, described as a ‘four-draw’ instrument, sold by Messrs Christie’s, South Kensington as lot 12, 15th April 1993, located to date.
£3000-4000 86.
A LARGE MID 18TH-CENTURY 1½IN. SINGLE-DRAW NAVAL TELESCOPE
unsigned, with tapering mahogany decagonal tube, main lens assembly with dust slide, inscribed in copperplate script on the gilt-brass draw-tube Captn. Matthew Smith R.N. (missing eye cup, tube cracked) -- 49½in. (126cm.) closed
This officer is recorded as being made Lieutenant on 4th December 1779, Commander 18th April 1782 and Captain exactly one year later. Intriguingly he is also listed as being Dismissed the Service in 1796, but Restored again in 1798. He died in 1844. This telescope was discovered recently in an attic during a clearance and, despite losses and wear, remains in good optical condition.
£200-400 87.
[BRASSEY’S] NAVAL ANNUALS
seventeen volumes, comprising 1886, the rare first year of issue, 1890, 1895, 1897, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1919, 1920-1, 1927, 1932, 1940, 1952, 1956 and 1966, generally good condition, in original bindings as issued (one in dust jacket), a useful run for the researcher, especially the Great War issues of 1914-19
(17) £150-250
86 (detail)
86 additional images online at
www.charlesmillerltd.com 37
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