Major Carey's Patent Ross Binoculars

A leather cased pair of brass Binoculars by Ross of London.

The Binoculars have black leather grips and the brass has taken on a good patina with lighter areas where it has been handled more. There is also evidence of the brass originally having been blacked. The central brass bar is engraved 'Patent, Ross London, x10, No. 2968' along with 'Major D. Carey'. The binoculars probably had a pair of brass support brackets to the front that adjusted as the space between the eyepieces was moved. Perhaps they were damaged and removed but their loss doesn't affect the use of the binoculars. The sides have fittings for a neck strap.

The leather case has a shoulder strap as well as a pair of wide belt loops to the back. The main body of the interior is lined in a maroon velvet that shows goods signs of use. The interior of the case lid is lined in card. 'D.C.' is stamped to the top of the leather case.

It is probably that Denis Carey had his name engraved to the binoculars, and his initials stamped to the case, when he first purchased them. Carey enlisted as a second Lieutenant in the 30th Cambridgeshire Regiment on the 1st of May 1878. He remained with the regiment for his whole career, although it amalgamated to become the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment after the reforms of 1881. He eventually made the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1902 before retiring in 1906. He was a Major between the 18th of March 1895 and the 30th of October 1902, giving us a timeline for his purchase of the binoculars. He was part of the Chitral Relief Force of 1895 under Major General Sir Robert Low, sent to relieve the garrison of British and Indian forces at the Chitral Fort. Carey was awarded a medal with clasp for his involvement.

These binoculars work well, retain their case and have a military provenance dating to the end of the 19th century.

Case size is given.