Magnificent German Trench Telescope from 1890. Carl Zeiss Jena

Magnificent German Trench Telescope from 1890. Carl Zeiss Jena

Original and antique German trench telescope from 1890. This is a historic piece of great beauty. This instrument was manufactured by the German firm Carl Zeiss Jena. Carl Zeiss is one of the most prestigious manufacturers of optical equipment and was founded by Carl Zeiss in 1856 in the German city of Jena. The company specialized in manufacturing microscopes and refractometers-instruments used to measure the refractive index of optical glass. The refractometer was invented by Carl Zeiss's partner, Ernst Abbe. After Zeiss's death in 1888, Abbe established the Zeiss Foundation and opened his own branch for the manufacture of optical equipment.

This telescope is a true rarity, in magnificent working condition. It comes with a tripod that can be easily adjusted for height. The instrument retains all its original parts and functions very well. It appears to be a telescope intended for civilian use. On one of the silver-plated metal parts that hold the eyepieces and lenses, there is an engraved inscription: "Relief FernHorn." It also indicates that the lenses provide ten times magnification. The eyepieces are made of black Bakelite, and the rest of the parts are made of silver-plated metal and polished brass.

Another detail accompanying this unique object is the braided leather strap that secures the telescope, designed to be worn around the neck when it is detached from the tripod. The tripod itself is made entirely of polished, gold-plated brass and is in very good condition. The various parts slide smoothly, allowing the height of the telescope to be adjusted with ease. This magnificent trench telescope is a first-rate antique, an exceptional piece worthy of the most discerning collector.

Dimensions: 1,450 mm tall (maximum height of the tripod with the telescope).