Clifton records W. Leigh, as a sellar of kaleidoscopes and gives a date of circa 1830.

Loomes records W. Leigh, as a maker of tower clocks and gives a date of circa 1822.

William Leigh, a clockmaker in Newton-le Willows, Lancashire, working around 1822, is probably the maker of this instrument. Certain features in this instruments execution ie; the periphery gearing; the use of two engraved silvered stretcher rings bear a strong resemblence to silvered chapter rings on English clocks also the style of the engraving and the quotation would look more familier on a clock dial. Apart from taking the maker's name for granted these points do suggest a connection to a clockmaker rather than a scientific instrument maker. It is unusual for the maker of such an impressive instrument not be recorded in any of the scientific directories, apart from Clifton who records him as a sellar of kaleidoscopes. It does not seem plausible that he was a sellar or even a maker of kaleidoscopes since no other instruments bearing this maker's name appear to have been offered at auction. It is more likely to have been made by the clockmaker mentioned earlier, who is listed in Brian Loomes directory of Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World. This would indicate that clocks not kaleidoscopes were part of his main business and this instrument might have been made as special commission for an important client.