Items

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  Microscope Lamp

  The lamp is made from brass and cast iron. The instrument stands on a cast iron circular stand which is painted black. The circular column is connected to the base and holds the lamp via an arm. The lamps height can be adjusted by loosening the thumbscrew and adjusting the height along the column. The glass and brass reservoir is connected to the burner and has a blue glass chimney with a white porcelain shade which is removable. The shade is held by a circular attachment which stands adjacent to the column and can be adjusted vertically by a thumbscrew located at the bottom of the arm.
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  Watson & Son "Fram" Microscope

  The compound microscope stands on a tripod base, which is similar to the design used in W. Watson's more expensive instruments. The tripod ends in two uprights connected to the trunnion joint with adjustments that were similar to many other Watson models such as the Edinburgh and Royal. The double-sided substage mirror is housed in lacquered brass casing and set in a gimbal. The substage mirror is a screw focusing substage condenser which is similar to the American and German models. The mechanical square stage has two stage clips, one of which is spring loaded. The stage is designed along the Nelson form with U-shape cut out. This form of stage was used on this design from 1898 through 1913. The stage attachment can be moved vertically and horizontally by the two thumbscrews on the side in order to adjust the specimen for observation. "W. Watson & Sons Ltd. London" is etched into the stage. On the base, "W. Watson & Son Ltd. 15036", "FRAM" and "313 High Holborn London." are etched into the surface. Coarse focus functions by diagonal rack and spiral pinion which is controlled by the thumbscrews on either side of the body-tube whilst the fine focus is via a long lever controlled from the thumbscrew located at the top edge of the rear part of the arm. The Fram was an attempt at a slightly smaller and less expensive option than the earlier Edinburgh stand. The wooden case is original to the microscope and has a compartment to hold the lenses which can slide out.
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  Bausch & Lomb Jug-Handled Microscope

  The compound microscope is made from brass and japanned brass. The microscope stands on a Y-shaped stand which is connected to the pillar. The pillar ends in an inclination joint which allows the microscope to be angled for observation. The fixed square stage has stage clips that hold the specimen in place; however, one clip is missing. The sub-stage mirror is held in a gimbal on an arm. The microscope has a signature "jug-handled" limb as it resembles a handle. The body-tube has an extension with measured markings, which via a sliding mechanism, can extend the length of the body-tube in order to focus. The coarse focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism which is controlled by a thumbscrew on the side of the body tube. Fine focus is controlled by the small thumbscrew on the top of the pillar. The instrument has the serial number "101809" etched into a black plaque on the base. The instrument has a triple nose piece which can be rotated and adjusted. The case is made from wood and has a brass carry handle. The case has a draw in the top left corner for the objectives and eye pieces.
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  Student Drum Microscope

  The Martin-type microscope is made from brass and has a circular base. The substage mirror is located in a circular cut out beneath the circular stage. The sub-stage mirror can be rotated by a thumbscrew on the side of the microscope. The instrument has a hinged magnifier above the cut out that contains the stage, and can be maneuvered to catch the light. Coarse focusing is achieved by sliding the body-tube closer and further from the stage. The wooden case is designed along a "coffin" style and is secured by brass swing hooks. The case has compartments to hold slides and accessories.
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  Stage Forceps

  The stage forceps/specimen holder is made from brass. The instrument would be attached to a microscope/stage for holding the chosen specimen in any position under a microscope. There is a cork encased in brass at one end which would have been used by sticking a needle/pin in the cork and picking up a specimen for observation. The arm rotates and swivels on a ball joint in the center. There are two small turning screws which open and close the tweezers holder.
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  Simple Pocket Microscope

  The simple pocket microscope is made from brass. The lens on the underside of the microscope is a Stanhope lens. The ocular lens is a lower-power convex simple lens. Each lens can be focused by drawing the body tube in and out of the drawtube. The mirror is located between the lenses and revolves to reflect light into either lens. To view, specimens are held on a pin, between tweezers, or between the microscopist's fingers as the small size cannot accommodate slides. The lower simple lens can be removed so the instrument can be used as a magnifier.
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  Brass Telescope

  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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  Handheld Brass Microscope

  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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  Ernst Leitz Dissecting Microscope

  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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  Pocket Magnifier

  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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  Charles Baker Microscope

  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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  Charles Baker Polarizing Microscope

  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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  Charles Baker Compound Microscope

  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.
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  Compound "Zentmayer" Style Microscope

  The compound microscope is made of lacquered brass and mounted on a japanned black cast iron horseshoe base. The main body tube is mounted on top of a four-inch brass pillar via a compass joint which allows the complete optical assembly to tilt over a range of 90 degrees. There is an inner sliding body tube extender which increases the body length by up to 3 inches. A removable substage condenser has an adjustable diaphragm opening (20 mm max.) The circular specimen stage is engraved "Betz Special, Chicago, Illinois" and has a substage diaphragm located underneath the stage. Many of the Betz microscope components were apparently manufactured by the Gundlach Manhattan Optical Company and some of the Betz microscopes were delivered with Zeiss lenses. The microscope comes with its original hardwood carrying case. It has an interior draw that holds the accessories. The case is secured by a brass swing hook on the side of the case and has a brass carry handle.
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  Excelsior Telescope and Microscope

  The telescope/microscope consists of papier-mâché and brass. The draw tubes are made from papier-mâché while the ocular and objective lenses as well as the cap are made of brass. To function as a telescope, draw all the tubes out to the marks on the tubes which produces the normal focus. The focus can then be adjusted via the smallest slide. If the telescope is used with the largest side as an ocular lens, the telescope can then function as a microscope. The telescope/microscope was on the market for $1 and the design was patterned in 1906. The case is original to the instrument but damage from age and use due to the fragility of the cardboard material. The text on the top is still visible to read and is in good condition for its age.
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  Drum Compound Microscope

  The drum compound microscope is made from lacquered brass. The style was manufactured in France, Germany and England and sold throughout the United States and Europe. Many of the microscopes manufactured using this design were unsigned due to the huge quantities sold by various makers. The microscope consists of a body tube suspended by a tubular base above a circular specimen platform. The body tube is moved closer or further away from the specimen platform to coarse focus via a sliding mechanism. There is also a concave substage mirror located in the bottom of the microscope, which can be seen through a circular cut out. The "coffin-style" wooden case has compartment for the microscope and slides. The case is secured with two swing hooks. The microscope comes with the following accessories: 3 cardboard prepared slides.
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  Simple "West Patent London" Microscope

  Many simple microscopes were made around the 19th century to the style of the "Society of Arts" Prize Pattern. Many used this design to create affordable microscopes, therefore very few were signed by the creator and the design differed depending on the manufacturer. The "Cary-Gould" style, simple microscope is made from lacquered brass and is case-mounted onto a fitted mahogany case. The pillar screws into the top of the lid which is permanently attached to the circular stage and arm. The objective lens can be used separately — to work as a simple microscope — or used together to function as a compound microscope. The sub-stage mirror is attached via a pin into the lower part of the pillar. The dissecting pin is attached via a pin to the stage. The mahogany fitted case is secured by two brass hooks on either side of the case. The interior of the case is lined with blue velvet and is organized into compartments to fit the disassembled microscope.
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  Microscope Light Screen

  The Victorian microscope light/heat screen was used by microscopists to shield light while observing a specimen, but they very likely had other uses (some sources cite photography as an example.) They are seen as microscope light shields in several scientific catalogs. The fan itself is made from a fragile material that resembles paper. The box is covered in a leather-like material with decorative border imprinted on the top of the lid. The box is secured with a push and clip mechanism. The interior is lined with red velvet and organized into compartments that fit each part of the dismantled fan.
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  Simple Dissecting Microscope

  The dissecting microscope is made of solid mahogany with tapered ends that form rests for the hands. The glass stage plate is beveled with a white glass plate located underneath that is placed at an 45 degree angle for illumination. The lens is held in a fitting which swings over the stage plate and slides up and down for focussing. This microscope style was used mainly to study small flowers and plants as well as small animals.
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  Pocket Magnifier

  The pocket focusing magnifier is made of lacquered brass and has an unusual Archimedean screw thread. Focusing is operated by twisting the body-tube along the thread in a circular motion to adjust the distance between the ocular and 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 in photography. It could be used to focus on an image by aiming the lens or placing it against an image, therefore not allowing light to enter.
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  Pocket Handheld Microscope

  The pocket simple microscope is made of lacquered 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 and the slides are held in place via a slot on the lower 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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  Bausch & Lomb Compound Microscope

  The monocular microscope has a cast iron horseshoe base. The pillar, cast as one piece, and the limb is made of iron and painted black. The brass arm supports the body-tube, which has a triple nosepiece. The coarse adjustment is by rack work, and the screw for fine adjusting is on top of the limb. Below the square stage are a swinging Abbe condenser, an iris diaphragm, and a concave substage double mirror. The microscope is signed: "Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. Rochester, N.Y." Serial number 104100 is engraved at the end of the tube. The wooden carrying box has a crack in the back of the box from top to bottom. The case has some signs of wear and tear with a lock without a key.