Grand old telescope from yesteryear attracted interest (but not a high price) at Lincolnshire auction

                                                                   

Eight-draw telescope - probably too cumbersome for most birders today

MOST birders are familiar with names such as Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss - all noted for their high quality optics, including spotting scopes.

But rewind to a bygone age when a British manufacturer, C.W. Dixey & Son, was top brand in town with its wide range of optical accessories. 

Established in New Bond Street in London's West End in 1777, the firm thrives to this day and is proud to have included among its spectacles-buying customers the likes of  Queen Victoria, at least 10 British prime ministers, including  Sir Winston Churchill, and Antarctic explorer Dr Edward Wilson

Then there were the writers Tennessee Williams and Ian Fleming plus actors such as Boris Karloff, John Gielgud and Peter Sellers.

It is not known how many telescopes it manufactured before closing this division, but, earlier today one came up for auction in Louth, Lincolnshire, where bidding reached £100 before the hammer fell.

The sale was conducted by John Taylors auctioneers several of whose other lots featured brass telescopes from yesteryear.

All achieved prices of between £40 and £110, their relatively low values perhaps reflecting contemporary buyers' preference for ease of use and precision over antiquity.

Special engraving:  C.W. Dixey - Optician to the Queen