Hassler was a connoisseur of scientific instrumentation. He bought instruments from the best makers, often ordering custom features of his own design and instruments of his own invention. This collapsing field telescope was a personal item that was not purchased with government money. But it was probably obtained by Hassler during his instrument buying trip to London for the United States Government between 1812-1815. The signature on the instrument --"Bate, London"-- refers to Robert Brettell Bate. Bate was a London maker and dealer of mathematical, philosophical, and optical instruments. It may have been used by Hassler to locate potential emplacements for observation signals. Its missing objective lens was reconstructed in the Optical Shop of the NIST Fabrication Technology Division.
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