Francis Watkins and the Dollond Telescope Patent ControversyAshgate Publishing, Ltd., 28 de juny 2014 - 430 pàgines Francis Watkins was an eminent figure in his field of mathematical and optical instrument making in mid-eighteenth century London. Working from original documents, Brian Gee has uncovered the life and times of an optical instrument maker, who - at first glance - was not among the most prominent in his field. In fact, because Francis Watkins came from a landed background, the diversification of his assets enabled him to weather particular business storms - discussed in this book - where colleagues without such an economic cushion, were pushed into bankruptcy or forced to emigrate. He played an important role in one of the most significant legal cases to touch this profession, namely the patenting of the achromatic lens in telescopes. The book explains Watkins's origins, and how and why he was drawn into partnership with the famous Dollond firm, who at that point were Huguenot incomers. The patent for the achromatic telescope has never been satisfactorily explained in the literature, and the author has gone back to the original legal documents, never before consulted. He teases out the problems, lays out the evidence, and comes to some interesting new conclusions, showing the Dollonds as hard-headed and ruthless businessmen, ultimately extremely successful. The latter part of the book accounts for the successors of Francis Watkins, and their decline after over a century of successful business in central London. |
Des de l'interior del llibre
Resultats 1 - 5 de 70.
... became one oftwo technical schools in leeds. here, at the end ofthe second year at the school, boys had a choice of following different aspects of technical education, one of them being engineering which involved the study of applied ...
... became fluent in French. (he would often write to his friends in this language to keep in practice, and also made a translation of Watkins's L'Exercise du Microsope (1754) for his own use.) after some years in switzerland, which gave ...
... became a founding member of the institute's history of physics Group in 1984 and he served on its steering committee until 1987. The Group's very first meeting at the institute's headquarters in Belgravia square on the theme of ...
... became his abiding interest, though his devotion to his elderly invalid parents, whom he moved down from Wakefield in 1993, soon began to restrict his bachelor freedom to travel and to conduct his research. in retirement Brian tutored ...
... became filthy with 250 yrs of muck.' never given to despair, he viewed the restrictions placed upon him in retirement with equanimity and even as a blessing in disguise. he confided (14 december 2006): My salvation has been in working ...
Continguts
1 | |
3 | |
25 | |
35 | |
From newtons error to halls solution | 73 |
The rise ofJohn dollond and his patent | 101 |
peter dollond and his conflict with Watkins smith | 145 |
peter dollond and his Further disputes with opticians | 175 |
new conflicts within the spectaclemakers company | 205 |
The Unexpected longevity of chester Moor hall | 231 |
one hundred years at charing cross | 253 |
after Watkins hill | 293 |
Articles of Copartnership between Mr Francis Watkins | 331 |
Index | 375 |
Altres edicions - Mostra-ho tot
Francis Watkins and the Dollond Telescope Patent Controversy Mr Brian Gee Previsualització limitada - 2014 |
Francis Watkins and the Dollond Telescope Patent Controversy Brian Gee,edited by Anita McConnell Previsualització limitada - 2016 |
Francis Watkins and the Dollond Telescope Patent Controversy Brian Gee,edited by Anita McConnell Previsualització limitada - 2016 |