Featured Victorian-era Four-Draw French Naval Telescope

"Forgive me father, for I have shopped..."
"...Gee, I...dunno the correct penance for that. I suppose you could say 'Three Hail Macys'...?"
"Ahaaaaah!! Good one, Padre!"

- The Nanny.

And this is what I bought:



A 19th century French four-draw naval telescope with sun-shield, and the original brass lens-cap.



I sold a few pieces of silver lately, and went on a bit of an early-birthday spending-spree.



The maker's mark on the barrel is beautifully engraved...



It reads:

Maison de
L'Ing. Chevallier, Opt'n.
Place du Pont Neuf, 15
Paris.

According to Wikipedia, Pont Neuf is a bridge across the Seine in Paris, but that's all I've managed to find out so far.

 

That is beautiful Shangas, what a great gift for yourself

 

Lovely piece! You have such discriminating taste Shangas.................

 

Though the oldest, it is the 'new' bridge. A great place to stroll.

 

My father always bullied into me, to buy the best things at the best prices. That's all I'm trying to do. I shall sell off some of my other telescopes to atone for my retail sin...

 

After doing more research, I have come up with a name...

Jean-Gabriel-Augustin Chevallier. A French optician who, according to one article, lived from 1778 - 1848. Apparently he had his place of business near the Pont Neuf from 1838-1848, when he died.

Apart from telescopes, he appears to have been a prolific manufacturer of microscopes.

That being the case, my telescope probably dates to the 1840s (?)

 

Out of curiosity, I typed the address: 15, Place du Pont Neuf, Paris, into Google. I came up with this image...



Here's our chap! Roughly translated, the main part of the advertisement reads:

Chevallier. Optician to the king. Manufacturer of optical, scientific, and mathematical instruments.

Then underneath that is the address, which we already know

 

Thank you

I've been busy cleaning and oiling it all day to get the draw-tubes and the sun-shield sliding back and forth smoothly without jamming. It's getting there, but there's still a lot of gunk to be removed.

At least pulling it apart was simple enough. Cleaning the lenses was the easiest bit!!

 

WOWZA!!!

 

You have what they call a "Good eye" Mr. Shangas ! Im always impressed with your taste.

 

And yet, ironically, I started collecting antique optical equipment...



...because I have TERRIBLE eyesight!!

 

I can see that...

 

You can see that I have terrible eyesight?

And thanks, Johnny. Dad always said I had expensive/fine taste. As Churchill said: "I am always satisfied with the best".

 

See was supposed to be 'see'.