Object Description
A pair of blacked brass Long John Binoculars by Lemaire of Paris, with a leather case.
Long Johns are essentially a pair of telescopes fixed side by side. They were mostly made in the second half of the 19th century but fell out of favour with the invention prism binoculars in the 1890s.
They are marked by the maker ‘Ft. Lemaire, Paris’ to the eye pieces. The Binoculars have a button to the back of the steel ring which, when depressed, allows the binoculars to fully extend in one quick movement. It is engraved to the top with the abbreviation for Brevet ‘Be. S.G.D.G’. They are in good working order and retain their leather case. Late 19th Century.
Case size is given. Fully extended size is 11 3/4 inches.