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. |
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... ofhis teaching involved showing students how to demonstrate physical experiments. he soon acquired a reputation among his Marjon colleagues of being an outstanding teacher of physics. inspired further by david layton's Science for the ...
... ofhis journey and making arrangements for his mother's care during the festive season proved a nightmare, but his stoicism and sense of humour remained unbroken by the experience. There were further post-operative blows: he had become ...
... ofhis family successors; by contrast, William's life remains obscure although there is evidence that his progeny remained in contact with their uncle Francis and also made some separate headway in the instrument trade. as it happened ...
... ofhis progeny. The Will began by stipulating that three of his sons,. 10 That is, according to the Index to pre-1837 marriage bonds. NLW: Department. of Manuscripts & Records, SD/Z/46/37. This bond was dated 18 May 1747 although the ...
... ofhis home). Jeremiah-i's care in spreadinghis assets to benefit these succeedinggenerations characterises a man ofdeep conscience who thoroughly understood the need to plan a secure start for his offspring. certainly, the sons were ...
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 |