Charles Baker Compound Microscope

Title

Description

The compound microscope is made from lacquered brass. The microscope is supported by a straight-legged tripod with the substage double-sided mirror connected to the pillar in between the legs of the tripod. The substage plano-concave mirror is secured to a gimbal support which allows for adjustment to catch the light. The circular stage can be rotated and has two brass spring clips which hold the specimen in place for observation. There is also an Abbe substage condenser which has an adjustable iris diaphragm which can be altered with a lever along its side. The coarse focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism which moves the body-tube closer or further away from the fixed stage. The fine focusing mechanism is controlled by a thumbscrew located at the top of the pillar. The pillar has the words "Baker, 244 High Holborn, London." etched into the brass. The microscope comes with its original mahogany case and has interior compartments for the accessories and separate bullseye condenser. The case has a brass carry handle located on its top and the lock is still fitted; however, a key did not come with the microscope.

The microscope comes with the following accessories: 1 free-standing bullseye condenser, 1 analyzer, a substage assembly with a polarizer and removable stop disc, 2 stops on a revolving spring loaded plate, 2 objectives in brass canisters: 1 marked 1/6 inch and 1 marked 1/2 inch as well as 1 unmarked ocular.

Condition:

Cosmetically: Some spotting in black painted underside of glass and there is a small hairline crack on concave side does not affect mirror. One side of the substage mirror is heavily stained from age. The lacquered brass is in good condition.

Optically: The lenses are clear and functional.

Mechanically: The joint on which the microscope tilts is loose which means at more extreme angles it needs to be held in place.

Subject

Microscopes

Creator

Charles Baker

Source

Dean Reynold's Microscope Collection Powerpoint, 
Gerald L'E Turners, The Great Age of Microscope: The Collection of the Royal Microscopical Society through 150 Years, (New York: Adam Hilger, 1989.),  109.

Publisher

UNC Charlotte

Date

c. 1900

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: 10" closed, 12" extended
Bullseye condenser: 6" tall (stand), 1 1/2" diameter of lens
Case: 7" x 6" x 12"

Language

N/A

Type

Three-dimensional object

Identifier

080807

Coverage

244 High Holborn, London, England

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