J.B. Dancer Binocular Microscope · Atkins Library: Exhibits

J.B. Dancer Binocular Microscope

Item

Title

J.B. Dancer Binocular Microscope

Description

Manufactured by the "Committee of the Society" — now known as the Manchester Microscopical Society (RMS) — the microscope was designed according to Dancer's 1873 catalog. The microscope is a portable Wenham binocular instrument which is built on a Ross-bar style limb with the Wenham prism mounted into the body-tube, which holds the RMS standard objectives. The design was offered with either rack and pinion coarse focus or chain drive and this microscope coarse focusing functions via chain drive which is not currently working. Inter-ocular separation is by a simple (lightweight) lever mechanism, and the plain stage has a slide bar to hold and maneuver the specimen. The stage has a central hole threaded to take sub-stage accessories. Below the stage is a plano-concave mirror. The microscope is signed on the foot “J.B. Dancer Manchester” and is numbered “50.” Original mahogany box has original key and comprises of two inner pull out drawers. Inside the door is a Paper Label stating: '' PRIZE MEDAL 1862. J. B. DANCER, OPTICIAN, MANCHESTER, Inventor of Microscopic Photographs, manufacturer of all kinds of Optical and Mathematical Instruments, Binocular Achromatic Microscopes, Rifle Telescopes, Field Glasses, Achromatic Telescopes, &c., &c. By appointment to Her Majesty's Commissioners '' with two Motifs.

The microscope comes with the following accessories: 2 eyepiece lenses, 1 objective engraved "2 & 1", 4 ocular lenses: two labelled: "HOLOS x14" and "2," the other two unsigned. These objectives do not seem to be for this microscope.

Condition:

Cosmetically: The substage mirror is stained from age and use. The brass lacquer has come off from age and use but in good condition.

Optically: The lenses are clear and functional.

Mechanically: The coarse focusing does not hold in place so the thumbscrew needs to be secured for observation.

Subject

Microscopes

Creator

J.B Dancer

Source

Dean Reynold's Microscope Collection Powerpoint http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/ladd.htm

Publisher

UNC Charlotte

Date

c. 1873

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: 15" closed, 17 1/2" extended
Case: 15 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Language

N/A

Type

Three-dimensional object

Identifier

090124

Coverage

Manchester, England

Item sets

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