Smith, Beck & Beck Student Microscope · Atkins Library: Exhibits

Smith, Beck & Beck Student Microscope

Item

Title

Smith, Beck & Beck Student Microscope

Description

The early Wenham binocular compound microscope was sold to a Mr. W. Bean on the 31st May 1856 according to the records. The instrument is signed "Smith, Beck & Beck, 31 Cornhill, London 1088." on the body-tube. The microscope stands on a reversed Y-shaped base connected to the lower pillar which ends in brass trunnions which allows for inclination. The instrument includes a plano-concave mirror in a gimbal on an articulated arm connected to a sliding collar. The mechanical stage has an attachment which allows the specimen to be held in place by balancing it on a shelf, and the upper level of the stage can also be rotated to adjust. The stage can be adjusted along the X and Y axis via rack work controlled by the two thumbscrews located at the side of the stage. Beneath the stage is an iris diaphragm with 3 apertures that can be rotated. Coarse focusing is achieved by rack and pinion mechanism controlled by the two large thumbscrews at either side of the body-tubes. Fine focusing is controlled by the labelled thumbscrew located behind the stage. At the top of the binocular body-tube is the inter-ocular adjustment via rack work.

The microscope comes with the following accessories: 2 low power ocular lenses, 2 medium power ocular lenses, 2 high power ocular lenses, 2 objectives with signed brass canisters: "1/5 in Smith, Beck & Beck, 31 Cornhill, London" & "2/3 in Smith, Beck & Beck, 31 Cornhill, London." A Lieberkuhn and cover, a sub-stage dark well holder and set of 3 dark wells, 1 sub-stage polarizer, 1 eyepiece analyzer, 1 lucida, 1 Zoophyte trough, 1 erector lens, 1 high power monocular body tube, 1 selenite slide, 1 micrometer slide, 1 bulls-eye condenser with stand (missing the steel rod.)

Condition;

Cosmetically: The brass on the body-tube has been stained from age and use. The microscope is in otherwise good condition.

Optically: The lenses are clear and functional.

Mechanically: The microscope is functional.

Subject

Microscopes

Creator

Smith, Beck & Beck

Source

Dean Reynold's Microscope Collection Powerpoint http://www.arsmachina.com/beck1337.htm

Publisher

UNC Charlotte

Date

Circa 1871

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 3/4" closed, 19 1/2" extended.
Case: 16 1/2" x 6 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Language

English

Type

Three-dimensional object

Identifier

180415a

Coverage

31 Cornhill, London, England

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