Long John Binoculars
Long John Binoculars
83175
A pair of blacked brass Long John Binoculars with leather grips. SOLD
Long John Binoculars are essentially two telescopes fixed side by side. These have a rack and pinion to extend and reduce the focal length and to increase or reduce the width between the eyepieces. They also have leather covered shades to prevent reflection, that pull out to a length of 2 1/4 inches.
The Binoculars are engraved 'L.T. to C.R.S., R.E. 15-3-1900'. We cannot identify L.T. but the only officer in the Royal Engineers with the initials C.R.S. in 1900 was Charles Richard Stevens. He was born in Bengal in 1865, the son of Sir Charles Cecil Stevens KCSI who became Lieutenant Governor of Bengal in 1897. Charles junior became a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on the 9th of December 1884, promoted to Captain in 1893. In 1899 he was at Netley, near Southampton and was ordered to India. In August of 1900 he died from enteric fever (typhoid) at the age of 34.
These Long Johns have no maker's name but they are good quality, sharp and ready for use. Dated 15th March 1900.
Reduced size is given. Extended size is 11 1/4 inches.
Dimensions:
15th March 1900.
Brass and glass
L.T. to C.R.S., R.E. 15-3-1900
Telescope binoculars
Good
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 at the age of 34.These Long Johns have no maker's name but they are good quality, sharp and ready for use. Dated 15th March 1900.Reduced size is given. Extended size is 11 1/4 inches.){kind=link}