A. Bardou
Floor Standing Refractor Telescope
Paris: late 19th Century
Brass on brass-mounted oak stand
63 inches high, average assembled adjustable height with telescope
42 inches long, telescope extended (large barrel and eyepiece tube)
3-inch diameter objective lens
1.5 inches diameter eyepiece
$6,200
Large Brass Floor Telescope
A. Bardou, Paris: Late 19th Century
A. Bardou, Paris: Late 19th Century
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Large barrel telescope with thumbwheel rack and pinion fine focus, adjustable in height on center tubular post by thumbnut, the original oak tripod stand (collapsible with wingnuts) with later applied brass decorations of three lion heads and three elephant heads, the legs ending in brass sabots.
The focusing system in the tube contains the eyepiece, and has a hidden straight row of gear teeth (the rack) running along one side of it, which are engaged by a simple gear (the pinion), attached to a knob, to adjust focus. This is a refracting telescope; that is, only lenses are used to form the image (not mirrors or prisms). Its attractive polished brass finish and wooden stand makes it an elegant accessory for the home library.
A trade catalog published in English by Bardou in 1911 recommended their line of telescopes with 3-inch lenses for terrestrial viewing of scenery such as mountains, as well as for basic astronomical observations, such as viewing the topography of the moon and features of the planets not visible to the naked eye such as Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons.
A. Bardou was a prolific Paris maker of fine telescopes and optical instruments in the late 19th century, succeeded by Bardou & Sons. They supplied numerous American scientific instrument sellers.
Engraved at end of barrel: A. BARDOU/ PARIS
Condition: Very good. Optics original, very good with the usual light scratches, do not affect use. Brass repolished and with a few minor ding dents, not obtrusive. Decorative brass ornaments later.
Reference:
Bardou & Son. The Telescopes of Bardou & Son, Paris, France. Paris: 1911. Reprinted on Instruments for Science: Scientific Trade Catalogs in Smithsonian Collections, 1800-1914.” http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/trade-literature/scientific-instruments/files/51784/index.htm (29 November 2004).