Queen was born in 1815, and is listed as an optician first in 1839. I have
an address for James W Queen: 924 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Queen worked
with Samuel L. Fox under the Queen and Co. rubric from 1861 until 1870,
when Queen retired.  Thus the Queen[sic] and Co. telescope dates from the
1860s if it was actually made by Queen, though the company name was used
until 1893 by W. & L.E. Gurley. There was (and maybe still is) a telescope
by this company at the Chicago Historical Society, and another one in the
Gurley Museum (Troy, NY??).

As most people on this list know, it is not a good idea [in more plain
English, it's a bad idea] to take apart an old instrument, including a
telescope, unless you really know what you're doing. Taking apart the
optics is a really bad idea and an even worse act. I realize I'm preaching
to the choir, but the more we can impress on people not to "clean" or
"fix" or disassemble historical objects, the better off we (and the
objects) are.

Cheers,

 Marvin Bolt, Ph. D.
 Associate Curator, History of Astronomy Department
 Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
 1300 South Lake Shore Drive
 Chicago, IL 60605
------------
 Voice:   (312) 322-0594
 Fax:      (312) 341-9935
 E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
 URL:      http://www.adlerplanetarium.org
>
>
>I have just received an email from a gentleman with an antique
>telescope.  He is looking for information concerning the maker and the
>objects age.  I have included his description below. The maker's name
>engraved on the side is "James W. Queens & Co. Philadelphia, PA".   He
>included several digital photos of the item but I don't want to clog up
>everyone's email with them.  If you thinks you could help out I will be
>glad to forward them.  Any help anyone could provide would be great!!!
>
>
>~~~~~~~~~Attachment~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>I have attached 5 photos of the Telescope to this email. I will have to
>do
>the Spinning wheel later today or tomorrow. I am getting a round of
>auctions
>ready to start today. I know some people that are very knowledgeable in
>Binoculars and microscopes but they do not know about this Telescope. It
>is
>just over 5ft long when fully extended, soldered together with what
>looks
>like lead as you see on the cap. There are 5 sections all together. I
>think
>it is made of steel and plated with brass, some of this plating has worn
>
>off. I believe it is quite old and definitely a rarity.
>Thank you for taking the time to review the photos. I can always take
>more.
>I took the whole thing apart and cleaned the glass, I think there are 5
>lenses in all.
>
>
>
>--
>Patricia McElyea
>Curator of Collections
>Arkansas State University Museum
>[log in to unmask]
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>A morning without coffee is like something without something else.
>
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