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 32.
... scarlett's trade card c.1738. © The college of optometrists/British optical association Museum charing cross: detail from richard horwood, 'plan of the cities of london and Westminster ...', 1792–1799. city oflondon, london Metropolitan ...
... scarlett, whose shop in Macclesfield street was within sight of st anne's church. nathaniel's father, a local glover, probably considered it a great honour that his son should be apprenticed to such an upstanding person who, quite apart ...
... scarlett – her deceased husband's former master and employee – for guidance. it so happened that in scarlett's employ at the soho workshop there was a freeman capable of training young Watkins. This was henry Walder, son of a southwark ...
... scarlett himself – lasted until early in 1744 by which time he was dead. as executor of his father's estate, the younger edward scarlett retained the boy and returned him to Walder's supervision. of course, turnovers were neither ...
... scarlett's shop, including persons from the royal society and eminent foreign visitors, thereby learning the art of how to oblige and, most importantly, how to present his master's business by offering thoughtful and tactful advice to ...
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 |