THE BRITISH OPTICAL 

 INSTRUMENT INDUSTRY. 



GREAT BRITAIN is proud of her predominant share in creating 

 the science underlying the manufacture of optical instruments. 



It is only necessary to mention such names as Newton, 

 Young, Brewster, Herschel, Airey, Dollond, Lister, Maxwell, 

 and Rayleigh to realise to what a great extent this country 

 has been responsible for the instrument-making of the world. 



The British-made instruments illustrated in this book 

 indicate the perfection of design and workmanship that may 

 be looked for in this department of our national industry. 



An enormous demand for military instruments fostered 

 the industry in the past in those countries which possessed 

 large standing armies. It is, therefore, not surprising that 

 the great establishments for making optical instruments 

 found in continental Europe did not exist in this country. 

 The advent of the war, however, found the optical industry 

 of Great Britain in such a healthy state of activity that within 

 a short space of time it increased to the necessary extent to 

 equip a new army of five million men, and supplied many 

 million pounds' worth per annum of the highest grade scientific 

 instruments ; and it may be safely asserted that in no direction 

 has the creation of the Army been hindered by the lack of 

 the best optical instruments. Many optical inventions have 

 been produced by the trade for Military and Naval purposes 

 during the war, and the rapid development has been in 

 accordance with the well-earned traditions of the past. 



The Surveying and Nautical Instruments, Photographic 

 Lenses, Telescopes, Microscopes, Range-finders and Gun- 

 sights, invented and developed in this country, have not 

 been surpassed elsewhere, and with a greatly improved plant 

 of machinery and extended factories, obtained for War pur- 

 poses, there seems little doubt that the Industry will greatly 

 extend its scope in the future. 



The British Optical Instrument Manufacturers' Associa- 

 tion is a compact body, representing the most important 

 manufacturers. It is devoted to furthering the interests of 



