Trying to identify military scope and tripod

[Guest]

Hi all,

 

Looking for some information on this scope and tripod please, any idea as to age or rough price? Can’t find anything identical online anywhere! Maker is Lawrence and Mayo (on there very faintly) It’s also in this gun box which obviously isn’t original, can’t also find anything similar case wise either! It’s William Evans (box in picture) Many thanks in advance 

[MikB]

Are there any other markings than the Lawrence & Mayo ID? 

 

It *Looks* quite a lot like the Tel. Sig. series ('Telescope, Signalling' Mks. II - IV current during WW1), but the leatherwork is different, especially the OG cap. The tripod also has very different (and possibly better) mounting arrangements than the Stand, Instrument (typically Mk.V) in normal use, and the legs look even shorter than the short version of it.

 

It should fulfil pretty much the same function as the Tel. Sig. (originally designed as a heliograph signal receiver but since adopted for general service ('GS')), and GS telescopes in that sort of condition generally go for 50 - 80 quid - with many outliers - more if there's any provenance showing use in the war.

[reese williams]

If it is not marked Tel. Sig Mk XXX and only with the maker's name then it is most likely a post war commercial scope. There were lots of telescope parts left in stock when the war ended so they were assembled into completed telescopes and sold on the civilian market. I agree with MikB the tripod has had its legs shortened and mount modified. Set ups like this were used as civilian spotting scopes by competition shooters well into post WWII. I still use a civilian version of a MkIV at the range. As stated, less value than a military marked scope but still a good piece of gear.

[Guest]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the comments, the only other markings I can see are Mark II and the number 00646

 

Thanks

[303man]

I would say it is a  commercial Lawrence & Mayo scope, used for target shooting to see your spotting disc (Spotting Scope) with a modified Military Tripod.

[MikB]

14 minutes ago, 303man said:

I would say it is a  commercial Lawrence & Mayo scope, used for target shooting to see your spotting disc (Spotting Scope) with a modified Military Tripod.

 

It could still be a Tel. Sig. Mk.II dating most likely from pre-WW1, or a commercial of similar design as you suggest. Commercial and military telescope manufacture overlapped heavily anyway - Dollond, for example, produced a 'Signaller' that was effectively a Tel. Sig. scope without military markings sold on the commercial market, and there's plenty to suggest that military and commercial makers got componentry from common sources.