5 System Umbrella (8683)
This is probably one of the most important umbrellas there are. It is a system stick with five uses. I’m sure it was custom made, as no others have been seen. I ask people who have been in the cane business for a long time and if they haven’t seen one I take that as license to say not one has been seen. What I like about the internet is, if someone writes in and says that something I have said isn’t right, it is easy to change. So far everything I have said must be right, because no one has disputed me. On the other hand no one has agreed with me either.
The uses are; 1. Compass 2. Snuff container or smuggling container under the compass. 3 microscope in the ferrule. 4. Umbrella. 5 entire umbrella is a telescope. The optics in the telescope are very complicated as there needs to be at least three lenses to have the image not be upside down, and have a focal length that is 30”.
The cane umbrella has F.A. Tauntan, 4 Norfolk Street, lower road, Islington, on the handle. Islington is now a suburb or part of London. Whether is was a separate city back then I don’t know. When I first got this piece, Oct. 2006, I dated it 1820, based on the length of the ferrule, 4”. I then remembered the first patent for a steel stay was 1852. 1820’s is the date canes that have telescopes there entire length were made. I also read that there were umbrellas with steel says before they were patented. I’m going with 1820, what do you think?
Category: Pre 1850 - Umbrellas and Parasols Sub Category: Other
Listed: 2006-10-19 22:08:33
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