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Other Instruments by Le Maire

 

Collapsible Opera Glass

Signature LeMaire Fabt   Paris

Date Late 1800s
Dimensions English Metric
Shaft Diameter 0.6in 14mm
Total Length 3.8in 96mm
Closed Length 3.2in 80mm
Inter-Pupilary Distance 2.4in 62mm
Objective Clear Aperture Diameter 1.3in 32mm

Description

This pair of binoculars, or opera glasses, have folding clamshell-like covers for the objective lenses.  The covers are trimmed in brown leather.  The objectives are positioned by turning a lever that rotates the lenses from a horizontal to vertical position.  This permits the glasses to be folded to a very compact size.  The objective lenses are achromatic doublets, contained in brass cells.  They have plated brass tubes, single lens eyepieces, and flared eyecups, painted black.  Focusing is done with a central cylindrical thumbwheel.  All the metal parts appear to be plated or painted brass.  They are signed "LEMAIRE FABT   PARIS" on the face of the eyecups.

 

 


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