Culpeper-style Compound Microscope

Title

Description

The Culpeper-style microscope is made from brass and is attached to a mahogany base that contains a drawer. The design is based on instruments produced by Edmund Culpeper (1670-1737). The instrument stands on a decorative tripod stand which is connected to the fixed circular stage. Beneath the stage are two long stage clips which hold the specimens in place. The stage also has a spring-loaded attachment which can also be used to hold specimens in place for observation. The stage also comes with small forceps which connect to the stage by a pin. The sub-stage plano-concave mirror is attached to the base and is set in a gimbal which allows it to be rotated. Coarse focusing is achieved by rack work controlled by a thumbscrew on the body-tube. The body-tube stands directly above the stage which is held up by three curved pillars. The instrument is kept in its original pyramidal shaped mahogany case with a brass carrying hook situated at its top. The case is secured by a lock which is still functional and the key is kept with the accessories.

The microscope comes with the following accessories: 6 objectives (5 of which are stamped 1-5), spring-loaded stage attachment, stage forceps, 6 glass slides, 2 bone slides (one is marked with N3), 1 cardboard slide, 1 glass disk, tale box containing mica cover slips, brass box containing mica cover slips, and 1 key.

Condition:

Cosmetically: The brass on the body tube has some marks from age and use. The sub-stage mirror is in good condition with some marks on the edges.
Optically: The lenses are clear and functional.
Mechanically: The coarse focusing rack work does not always function and needs adjusting in order to work. Overall the microscope is functional.

Subject

Microscopes

Creator

Unsigned

Source

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

Publisher

UNC Charlotte

Date

c. 1770-1790

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: 12 3/4" closed, 14 1/2" extended (excluding base) 15 1/4" closed, 17" extended (including base)
Base: 6" x 5 3/4" x 2 1/2"
Case: 15 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 7 1/4"

Language

N/A

Type

Three-dimensional object

Identifier

180615

Coverage

England [?]

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