The tube of long vision : the physical characteristics of the early 17th century telescope / Silvio A. Bedini.
Abstract:
The invention of the telescope within the first decade of the 17th century brought about major changes in man's concept and knowledge of the universe ... Despite the lack of means and techniques for producing lenses and instruments adequate to the needs, the telescopes produced before 1650 achieved relatively remarkable results. It was not until the beginning of the second half of the 17th century, however, that the techniques of the various crafts involved were scientifically combined with the developing new methods of experimental science to produce telescopes of greater power and clarity. Galileo was a pioneer in bringing about this union between the scientist and the craftsman ... The present study is a review of attention to its physical characteristcs as it evolved into a truly scientific instrument
Physis A. 13, fasc. 2 (1971), p. 147-204