Niners Remember April 30 · Items · Atkins Library: Exhibits

Items

Advanced search

Oberhaeuser Drum Microscope

The drum-style compound microscope is crafted from brass and stands on a lead-weighted circular base. The designer of the instrument, Georg Johann Oberhaeuser (1798-1868) established a microscope-making business in Paris in the 1830s. The instrument is signed "G. Oberhaeuser, Place Dauphine, Paris" on the body tube. Due to the drum-style design, the substage mirror sits in a cylinder compartment with a square cut-out, by which the light can reach the mirror. On either side of the compartment are small thumbscrews that allow the position of the mirror to be adjusted. Above the mirror is a wheel of apertures mounted to the stage that can be rotated to control the amount of light that reaches the specimen. The square stage has two stage clips to hold slides in place. The column pillar connects the stage to the body tube. Another aspect of this design is that the microscope cannot be angled and so must stand completely straight when being used. Coarse focusing is, unusually, by a rack and pinion mechanism. The style usually included a sliding mechanism for focusing, and so this instrument may have been a custom order. The two threaded holes in the base suggest that the microscope was mounted to a desk for industrial or scientific use.
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.
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.
Drum Compound Microscope

The drum compound microscope is made of 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. Coarse focus functions by moving the body-tube closer or further away from the specimen platform via a sliding mechanism operated by a thumbscrew. There is also a concave sub-stage mirror located at the bottom of the microscope. The "coffin-style" mahogany case has compartments for the microscope, slides and accessories. There was a small, decorative plaque on the top of the lid, however, it is no longer attached to the case. The case is secured via a lock and key; however, the key is not present with the microscope.
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.
Drum Compound Microscope

The drum compound is made of lacquered brass. This 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. Coarse focusing is achieved via a sliding mechanism in which the body tube is moved closer or further away from the specimen platform. A bullseye condenser is attached to the front of the microscope which can be adjusted via the double-jointed arm. There is also a concave substage mirror located in the bottom of the microscope, which can be seen through a square cut out. The mirror can be adjusted by thumbscrews on either side of the microscope, however, the mirror is detached on one side. The "coffin-style" wooden case has compartment for the microscope and slides. The case is secured with two swing hooks.
Drum Compound Microscope

The drum compound microscope is made of 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 specimen platform. The body tube is moved closer or further away from the specimen platform to 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 square cut out. The mirror can be adjusted by thumbscrews on either side of the microscope. The thumbscrew for the rotation of the mirror has the word "France" engraved in it. The fitted case is designed along a "coffin-style" that is secured with two small swing hooks. One of the hinges that holds the top is broken. The case has a small compartment to hold slides or accessories. The inside of the case has a paper plastered on it that reads: "GROSSISSEMENT. 1 lentille....30 fois.
Drum Compound Microscope

The drum compound microscope is made from lacquered brass. The design of the instrument is French and was used by scientists and students in the field as it's compact size made it easy to use outside the laboratory. The focusing is done by moving the draw-tube closer or further away from the fixed circular stage. The substage mirror is one-sided and is plano-concave. The base is weighted in order to balance the microscope.
Drum Compound Microscope

The drum compound microscope is made from lacquered brass. This design made the microscope easy to use in the field by scientists. The focusing is done by moving the draw-tube closer or further away from the fixed circular stage. The design is French and has a one-sided substage plano-concave mirror located underneath the stage. The base is weighted in order to balance the microscope.
Student Compound Microscope

The French student-design microscope is made from lacquered brass. The rounded base is painted gold and green, and mounted on a ball and socket foot. The microscope has a bullseye condenser attached via an arm to the body tube which can swivel and adjust via a ball and socket joint. Coarse focusing is achieved via a rack and pinion mechanism controlled by the thumbscrew attached to the body tube. The lower section of the pillar has a single, one-sided mirror on a gimbal and pin, and a fixed circular stage. Beneath the stage is a revolving disc of 3 diaphragms that may be moved from the right side or from the front. Above the stage is a sliding casing on a pillar with a U-shaped slide holder. The fitted mahogany case is "coffin-style" and is secured via two swinging hooks. The case has compartment that holds the forcep as well as attachments that secure the microscope in the case.
Steward Student Drum Microscope

The small student drum-shaped compound microscope is signed "J. H. Steward. Optician. London" on the base. The company was located at 406 Strand, London in 1856 and they became opticians to "Her Majestys Government and the National Artillery Associations." The microscope has a draw-tube which slides up and down to focus, a fixed circular stage and a circular substage mirror attached by small pins on either side of the microscope. The mahogany fitted case is lined with black velvet and has two original brass swing clips to secure the lid.