Charles Baker "Ross Type" Microscope

Title

Description

The Charles Baker compound microscope comes with the original mahogany case. The brass microscope can be dissembled to fit into the case. The body tube and arm are secured via a thumbscrew to the mahogany platform which is fixed to the claw-footed base of the microscope. The lacquered brass foot has "BAKER, 244 High Holborn, LONDON" carved into it. The body tube and arm can then be attached via a screw to the pillar of the microscope. The fixed square stage is attached to the pillar and has a square fixture that can be horizontal to adjust the specimen. There is a substage revolving diaphragms that can be removed via a sliding mechanism. Coarse focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism and fine focusing is operated via thumbscrew found on the arm. The substage, one-sided mirror is permanently attached to the pillar of the microscope via a gimbal. The mahogany case is farcened with a brass lock which is no longer present on the case with the escutcheon missing. The wooden fitting that would originally have held the two objectives in the case is half missing and so the accessories are now being held in the draw located at the bottom of the case. The draw has a brass pull loop to open and close it. The case also has a brass handle at the top that is used to carry the case.

The microscope comes with the following accessories: 1 nosepiece analyzer, 1 live box, 2 substage sliders: 1 holding a rotating disc of apertures, 1 rotating polarizer, 2 objectives: 1 signed by A & B Franks of Manchester, the other is unsigned.

Condition

Cosmetically: The lacquered brass shows signs of wear and age. There are scratches visible on the base. The silvering to the mirror is in good condition with no stains.

Optically: The lenses are clear and functional.

Mechanically: The microscope is functional. The case is missing the lock.

Subject

Microscopes

Creator

Charles Baker

Source

Dean Reynold's Microscope Collection Powerpoint http://www.medicalmuseum.mil/assets/documents/collections/historical/billings-microscope-collection-part3.pdf
http://www.arsmachina.com/bakerjun99.htm

Publisher

UNC Charlotte

Date

c. 1850-1870

Contributor

Laura Burgess

Rights

Texts and images from this collection may not be used for any commercial purpose without prior permission from the Graduate Office, UNC Charlotte.

Relation

N/A

Format

Microscope: 16 1/2" closed, 19 1/2" extended.
Case: 14 1/4" x 9 1/2" x 8"

Language

English

Type

Three-dimensional object

Identifier

070704

Coverage

High Holborn, London, England

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