[Terrestrial telescope once owned by Conrad Martens]

R 860

fonds

ca. 1835

104814

Copy print : SPF/3514

Objects - 1 brass telescope, broad-flange eyepiece, 6-draw, encased in later green-painted canvas duck cover, triplet objective lens - 23.5 cm (closed), 87.4 cm (fully extended); 4.7 cm (diam. of objective) - Shows signs of use. The brass mounting for the objective is missing and the objective is cracked. The outer lens has chipped edges, the middle lens has radial cracks, and the inner lens is extensively cracked. The original outer covering was probably of wood and has been replaced by a fabric grip.

The donor stated that this telescope came into his mother's family, the Lumsdaines, when it was given to his mother, aged about ten, by Conrad Martens's only surviving child, Rebecca Martens(1838-1909). Miss Martens lived at "Elizabeth Cottage", 38 Edward Street, North Sydney; in the early 1900s the Lumsdaines rented "Llangollen Cottage", 36 Edward Street, also owned by her. (ref. The New South Wales Post Office Directory 1904, Wise's Directories, Sydney. Location : Mitchell Library 981/W).
In the sketchbook Conrad Martens was using shortly after his arrival in Sydney he wrote the following memorandum: "Dec. 29/[18]35 - Sent to England order for a 2 part achromatic Telescope by Dolland [sic, i.e.Dollond]. Pancratic Eye tube, tripod, stand and sling - arrived March 7/[18]38", ref. Sketchbook 1835-36, location : Dixson Library ZDL PX 14, f. 52a).
See also Notes on Conrad Martens' Pancratic Telescope, by Julian Holland, Curator of Scientific Instruments, Macleay Museum, University of Sydney. Location : Mitchell Library, Dixson Reading Room PXn 890.
Reproduced in Conrad Martens, colonial painter : The National Trust of Australia desk diary 1996 / Women's Committee of The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales). Sydney, 1994, opp. p. 57. Location : Mitchell Library 759.994/M377/1
Copy print transferred from Small Pictures File / Martens, Conrad - Relics

1st draw tube engraved "30"; "40"; "50": 2nd draw tube engraved "60"; "70"; "80": 3rd draw tube engraved "90"; "100"; "110"; "120": 4th draw tube engraved "The PANCRATIC Eye tube Invented by Wm. Kitchener M.D. Dollond London", "120"; "60"; "40"; "20": 5th and 6th draw tubes unmarked