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The brass telescope has a 3-tier draw tube. The ocular lens has a cover that can be slid to protect the lens via a pin. The telescope can be fully or partly extended in order to focus the instrument.
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The pocket telescope is made from brass and bone (or horn). The 4-draw telescope has a decorative white bone/horn draw tube which is lined by brass. The small instrument focuses via a sliding mechanism.
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The small Victorian 2-draw pocket telescope is made from brass and mahogany. The telescope has its original patina. The telescope focuses via a sliding mechanism of the body-tube through the draw-tube.
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The miniature telescope comes with the original, cylinder wooden case. The telescope focuses via a sliding mechanism and is made from brass. The draw-tube has diagonal dash markings which seem to be handmade.
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The simple pocket microscope is made from brass and is similar to a "squat" model. The ocular lens has a cover to protect the lens which slides out a slot compartment. The lower section of the instrument has two pillars and a square cut out in the bottom in which a specimen can be inserted for observation. The microscope comes with a fitted cylinder case.
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The circular desktop magnifier can be adjusted via a thumbscrew thread which works as the coarse focusing. The magnifier is made from brass and contains two lenses. The instrument has three legs that seem to date it in the 1840s due to the popularity of the design. The instrument would be used to assist those with failing eyesight to read or observe photographs.
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The bullseye condenser is made from brass and has a plano-convex lens. The instrument has a circular base which is weighted and a thumbscrew-style end on the arm to help maneuver the condenser lens. The instrument would have been used to direct light onto a specimen for observation from a candle or lamp. The words "BROADHURST CLARKSON & Co, 63 FARRINGDON ROAD LONDON E. C." are etched into the base.
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The simple microscope is made from brass. The microscope magnifies items 50 times linearly. The design is also known as a "universal" microscope and was popular from the start of the twentieth century. The simple design includes a singular ocular lens and the slides are held in place via a slot on the middle section of the circular body which is spring-loaded. These types of microscopes were manufactured in France or Germany and due to their low-cost, durability, and simplicity to use meant it was a popular instrument for hobbyists. The original box is made of cardboard and has two compartments to hold the microscope and the slides. The case also has instructions to use the instrument inscribed inside the lid.
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The miniature monocular/telescope has a shagreen-covered brass barrel and dual power rotating eyepiece. Lens position 1 is 10X (closed) and lens position 2 is 20X (open). Unlike other dual eyepiece telescopes, the lenses do not flip across via a pin but rather by rotating the outer ocular edge.
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The desktop magnifier is made from silver and has four decoratively etched legs. The instrument has two thick glass lenses and can be closed via a sliding and pin attachment that allows the legs to be maneuvered to a closed position so it can be transported easily. This design for a magnifier with four legs was popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to assist those with bad eyesight in reading as it could slide smoothly across the page. "PAT.DEC.25.77" is engraved into the inside of one of the legs.
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The magnifying glass is made from black stained mahogany with a long decorative turned handle.
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The dissecting microscope is made polished brass and stands on a lead-weighted horseshoe foot. The instrument is signed "E. Leitz Wetzlar" on the foot. A rack and pinion mechanism controls the coarse focusing, and raises a triangular sectioned bar from within the pillar. The pivoting arm is attached to the top of the triangular bar and holds a split-ring mount for the lens. There is a blackened objective attachment with a mirror on a swinging arm that can be added to the lens mount. The stage plate is made from glass and brass. A substage plano-concave mirror is mounted on a swinging arm and gimbal attachment beneath the stage. The fitted mahogany case is padded with maroon velvet and is designed along a "chest" style. There is a brass ring handle located at the top of the case. There is a white plaque on the interior of the lid which reads "E.Leitz. Wetzlar. New-York 411.W.59.Str."
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The Victorian "hammer" magnifying glass/loupe is made from brass and has a dark wood handle. The brass has two etched lines around the circumference of the lenses. The instrument would have been used by jewelers for inspecting their products or as a magnifying glass for reading.
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The pocket focusing magnifier is made from lacquered brass and has an unusual Archimedean screw thread. To focus the instrument, the body-tube is twisted up along the thread in a screwing motion to adjust the distance between the ocular lens and the objective lens. These instruments were commonly composed of two plano-convex lenses of identical focal length, mounted with their plane sides outward at a distance apart equal to two-thirds of the focal length. This instrument would have been used for photography and were designed to image what they are aimed at, or place against and therefore do not let light to enter.
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The miniature botanist microscope has the original lens intact. The objective lenses are set in a Lieberkuhn reflector which reflects light evenly onto the specimen. The simple microscope seems to have an ivory or bone handle. There is an attachment with an inclination joint which allows the stage forceps to be angled for observation. The specimen holder is not original to the instrument. The instrument comes with a magnifying glass with a matching ivory (or bone) handle.
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The universial microscope is made from brass and stands on a flat tripod foot. The limb is split into two by an inclination joint that allows the microscope to be angled for observation. The circular stage is missing its two stage clips which would hold the specimen in place. The monocular microscope has a substage aperture iris diaphragm which can be rotated to adjust the aperture. The arm of the mirror and condenser can be slotted into each other and are connected to a circular joint next to the stage which allows them both to be rotated. However, the microscope is missing its substage mirror and the two arms do not seem to slot into one another as they should. The coarse focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism which is controlled by the large thumbscrew on the side of the body tube. Fine focus is controlled by the small thumbscrew located on top of the limb. The microscope is signed "PAT. OCT. 3, 1876, PAT. OCT. 13, 1885" on the side of the pillar and "Bausch & Lomb Optical Co." on the stage. The mahogany case has a brass carry handle and is secured by a lock and key; however, the key is not present with the instrument. The case has an interior draw that holds the slides and accessories. The interior also has compartments for the objectives and ocular lenses, with the top compartment lined with blue velvet.
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The compound microscope is made from brass and japanned cast iron. The instrument is signed "NACHET ET FILS 17 Rue St Severin Paris" at the front of the arm attachment which holds the body tube. The microscope stands on a H-shaped foot which is painted black and connected to the pillar. The pillar is curved and has a inclination joint which allows the microscope to be angled for observation. The sub-stage concave mirror is connected to the square stage by a gimbal and pin. The stage has two clips that hold the specimen for observation. The objective has three lens attachments and coarse focusing functions via a sliding mechanism of the body-tube through the draw tube. Fine focusing is controlled by the small thumbscrew located at the top of the limb.
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The brass candlestick has a bulls-eye condenser attachment. The candle stick can function with or witho
ut the attachment. This accessory was used as an artificial light source to the microscope if and when natural light was unavailable. Candlesticks and lamps were commonly used by microscopists with the added modification of the bulls-eye condenser. Its origins can be found in Robert Hooke and illustrations shown in his book, Micrographia, which show the use of a glass globe filled with water to help intensify and concentrate the light from a candle. The use of optics to intensify the light of a candle or lamp was explored more closely in the nineteenth century with the creation of the bulls-eye condenser, which became a popular accessory to a microscope.
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The Gould-Cary style microscope — when assembled — is case mounted and the pillar screws into the top of the case. The substage mirror is connected via a gimbal and pin which allows for maneuvering to catch the light as well as easy removal from the microscope. The square fixed stage has a small bullseye condenser and specimen clip attached via a pin. The body-tube and objective lenses are attached via a screwing mechanism and can then be attached to the arm. Coarse focusing is controlled by the thumbscrew located next to the stage and uses a rack and pinion mechanism. The mahogany case is fitted and has compartments for the dissembled parts of the microscope. The interior of the lid is lined with blue velvet and the compartments are made from wood. The case is secured by two brass swivel hooks at the front of the case.
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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.
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The compound microscope is signed "C. Baker, 244 High Holborn, London, D.P.H.6233" and supported by a tripod base. Designed in the popular design known as "Jug handle," the brass is partly enameled, blackened and lacquered. The substage assembly consists of a slide-in condenser with iris and filter and a centering receptacle moves up and down on a dovetail by rack and pinion. The substage plano-concave mirror is connected via a gimbal and pin which allows it to rotate to catch the light for observation. The triple objective nose piece has three objectives fitted onto a circular joint to allow for rotation when using the microscope. Coarse focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism while fine focus is controlled by the small thumbscrew located at the end of the body tube. The finger jointed wooden case is original and marked with the serial number corresponding to the instrument.
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The monocular microscope is designed along the Cary-Gould style and mounted on the top of the orginal mahogany case. The compound microscope can be dissembled to fit into the fitted case. The limb is connected to an inclination joint that allows for the microscope to be angled for observation. The square fixed stage has two stage clips connected by pins and are detachable. The body-tube and objective are screwed into each other which is then screwed into the circular arm. The circular arm has a small bullseye condenser connected via a gimbal limb which makes it easy to maneuver. Coarse focusing functions via the sliding mechanism of the stage. The case has compartments lined with velvet to hold the different components of the microscope. The majority of the case has a wooden interior and the case is secured by two brass swing hooks.
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The compound microscope has a japanned claw-foot base and limb. The limb and body tube are connected by a trunnion joint that allows the microscope to angle when observing a specimen. The body tube, square stage and mirror fixture are made from brass. The body tube is connected to the curved limb, with the coarse focus controlled by a rack and pinion mechanism via a thumbscrew located at the side of the body tube. The microscope also has fine focus which is controlled by a thumbscrew on the front of the body tube. Underneath the fixed stage is a rotating iris diaphragm with 3 apertures. The substage mirror is connected via a gimbal attachment and rotates. The original case has a draw for accessories and a compartment for an objective canister. The case is made from mahogany and is secured by a lock and key, however, the key is not present with the microscope.
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The compound microscope has a double nose-piece which holds two objectives that can be rotated when needed. The monocular microscope is made from brass and japanned black cast iron. The horseshoe-shaped base and limb are japanned and connected via a trunnion joint that allows the microscope to be angled for observation. The coarse focus functions via a rack and pinion mechanism which is operated by a thumbscrew on the side of the microscope. Fine focus is controlled by the thumbscrew on the side of the pillar. The circular stage is fixed with stage clips that secure the specimen for observation. The outside of the stage has markings of measurement that range from 10 to 360. Beneath the stage is a polarizer which can be adjusted by rotating it. The microscope comes with a wooden, fitted case with compartments to secure the microscope. The case is secured via a lock on the door.
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The monocular microscope has a Ross Y-shaped foot which is secured to a mahogany platform. The compound microscope is made of brass. The one-sided sub-stage mirror is attached to the bottom of the limb by a gimbal joint that allows it to be maneuvered to catch the light. Coarse focusing is achieved by a rack and pinion mechanism which is controlled by a thumbscrew at the side of the limb. The small thumbscrew at the back of the body-tube by the nose piece controls the fine focusing. The square fixed stage does not seem to have any means of securing specimens. The substage iris diaphragm that can be adjusted by rotating the disk. This microscope design followed the 1854 Society of Arts pattern. The fitted, solid mahogany case has brass hinge and handle. The lock is missing and the door is slightly warped. There are shrinkage cracks to the rear panel.
