Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a very high quality all brass three draw telescope with the central barrel wrapped in brown leather. It measures 18″ when fully drawn and only 7″ when retracted. Comes complete with the original brass front lens cover. It is offered in great operational condition with clear optics. We believe that its dates sometime between 1830-1860.
DOLLAND of LONDON started business when father and son, John, born 1706 and Peter, born 1731, opened their store in London in 1760. It remained in business until it was taken over By AITCHISONS in 1927. Their great claim to fame was they counted THOMAS JEFFERSON as one of their customers.
Aside from the makers markings around the rear brass barrel band is engraved:
Lieutenant W. Slaughter
However, we cannot attribute this fine telescope to any specific Lt. W. Slaughter.
One possible candidate could be Lt. William Slaughter who was in the West Point class of 1848, was shipped out West with the 4th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army in 1854. Seeing considerable action he was subsequently killed by hostile Indians on December 4th, 1855 near the forks of the White and Green Rivers in California.
Certainly there are many other possible candidates, but an Indian fighter does have a certain ring to it!