This Fine Relic Has Been Sold. Thank you! REYNOLDS and DOBBIE & CLYDE  ADMIRALTY TELESCOPE  for General Steam Navigating Co.'s, S.S. “WOODLARK“  Ca 1900 Early 20th century telescopes are becoming increasingly difficult to find in good original condition, when bearing the name of two important instrument makers, the renown G.S.N. shipping company, and the SS WOODLARK!   Presented is a very large, high quality, British Naval pattern, single draw telescope from one of the Admiralty's best know makers, Reynolds & Son. It was made in conjunction with Dobbie & Clyde Ltd of Glasgow and London with whom they formed an alliance before there was a consolidation within the British instrument industry and both became part of Lille & Co. Reynolds & Dobbie were at the forefront of English companies serving the new steam ship industry. But their are few of their telescopes known to have survived. Their products were of the highest standard for the period, and this telescope is no exception. It is in full working order with only some minor exceptions. It was made for the General Steam Navigation Company known as G.S.N. Co. Ltd. The telescope is also marked for the SS WOODLARK whose photograph below is dated 1908. The history of all these companies is summarized in brief below. Little is known of the WOODLARK'S history, but the telescope was likely made in the first quarter of the 20th Century based on Dobbie McInnes' use of that name.   DIMENSIONS: It measures 24" closed and 31 /4” extended. The objective lens is 45mm diameter. Weighs a heavy 2 lbs 6 oz   MARKINGS: All in Copperplate font. S.S. “WOODLARK“ G.S.N. Co. Ltd. REYNOLDS & SON, DOBBIE & CLYDE Ltd LONDON DOBBIE MCINNES & CLYDE Ltd GLASGOW CONDITION: Admiralty pattern, single draw telescope of brass or copper. Deep dark rust colored patina of age. The barrel has a few dents as would be expected. The large 45mm objective lens is uncoated and has a tiny chip on the exterior. It does not affect the focus which is sharp and clear. There is a sliding sun shied to reduce glare at sea. There is no dust cove. The ocular lens has a sliding cover, but it is frozen.  Both lenses are free of fungus. A COMPLICATED HISTORY: REYNOLDS & Son Ltd, LONDON E.C.3' was a long standing instrument maker to the Admiralty, and was originally established in 1880. Dobbie McInnes Co. traces their roots back to the turn of the century when shipbuilding on the Clyde was thriving. They were appointed as ‘Instrument Makers and contractors to the British Admiralty’ producing chronometers. Offices were in South Shield, London, Glasgow & Liverpool.They also made Dobbie McInnes steam engine indicators from 1903 until 1921, and then again from 1937 until the late 1950s. The General Steam Navigation Co Ltd had its beginning in 1821 and its growth was rapid in international ocean trade through much of the 19th Century. It began to be negatively impacted by the increasing competition of railroads and the loss of its cattle transportation business due to the plague and laws prohibiting their transport at the tail end of the century. Early in the 20th Century the company consolidated its London river,excursion trade and acquired a fleet of Norfolk wherries. They also began to develop its wharfing interests  in London.At the end of WWI the company expanded its interests in several fields but larger companies which made them a takeover target. In 1920,  it was taken over by the P&0 Company. In turn, G.S.N. acquired several other small companies. Although wholly owned by the larger company, the G.S.N. Company led a largely autonomous existence until 1971. In this year the P&0 Group, as it had now become, reorganized its subsidiaries and the old G.S.N. Company became a part of P&0 European and Air Transport Division. See L. Cope Cornford, 'A Century of sea trading' (London, 1924); H.E. Hancock, Semper Fideles: 'The Saga of the Navies' (London, 1949). THE CONSOLIDATION HISTORY: John Lilley & Sons started business making nautical instruments in 1812. Almost 100 hundred years later in 1911, John Wilson Gillie invested in the company and it changed its name to John Lillie and Son, Ltd. John Lilley and Son had been the sole London agents for Sir William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, but this association ended in disagreement.  In 1913 Lilley and Gillie merged, and after this date instruments manufactured by the two companies bore the name John Lilley and Son Limited of London and North Shields. During the 1930’s many of the London nautical instrument makers were in difficulties, including John Lilley and Son Limited and Reynolds and Son, Dobbie and Clyde Limited, and Mr. J.W. Gillie arranged an amalgamation between these two companies. The new firm became Lilley and Reynolds Limited. In 1943, started a period of mergers, consolidations and dispositions of many companies related directly and indirectly with the original Gillie and Lillie of North Shields. In 2001, the surviving company became the largest part of the Charente Group and subsequently acquired the operations of Thomas Walker & Son, Ltd, in 2002 and in 2004 it bought a 50% interest in PC Maritime a digital chart maker. Overall, it is a fine example of a genuine antique marine telescope with a documented history tracing the British Maritime Industry in the early 20th Century. It should make a wise investment. INSURED SHIPPING to 48 contiguous States $20.00. OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned within five days of receipt in its original packaging if without damage. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization from us for the return is required. Shipping charges are  included in this offer within the continental United States if an error is due to our fault. International buyers welcome, but should inquire first.  We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. Copyright 2011 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved