Pocket Achromatic Telescope Signed Nairne And Blunt C.1780

A brass achromatic telescope signed Nairne and Blunt London circa 1780. This small telescope has one eyepiece. The tube with the signature of Nairne and Blunt has three marks for adjustments symbolized by one dot, two dots and three dots. The telescope is in excellent condition, with its varnish and screw cap. Many instruments in museums are signed Nairne and Blunt. Nairne and Blunt was a London-based manufacturing company of scientific, optical and mathematical instruments. It was founded by Edward Nairne and Thomas Blunt. Edward Nairne was a maker of optical, mathematical and philosophical instruments. He was apprenticed to Matthew Loft in 1741 and took over Loft's business around 1749. His apprentices included Thomas Blunt (I) with whom he went into partnership in 1774. Thomas Blunt, on the other hand, was a maker of scientific, optical and mathematical instruments. He was apprenticed to Edward Nairne in 1760 and later became his partner. The two ran a business together from 1774 to 1793. Together, they produced a variety of instruments, including microscopes, telescopes, navigational and surveying instruments, electrical machinery, vacuum pumps, and measuring equipment. Their business was located at 20 Cornhill in London, and they continued to operate under the name Nairne and Blunt until the end of their partnership. Their instruments were highly regarded, and many of them can still be seen in museum collections around the world, such as the Museo Galileo in Florence, the Science Museum Group in London, and other prestigious institutions.