Items

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  Objective Magnifier

  The small magnifier is made from brass and glass. The magnifier consists of two magnifying lenses in a circular casing. The instrument could also be a microscope lens; however, the instrument consists of an ocular and objective lens and can work as a magnifier by itself.
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  Magnifying Glass

  The circular magnifying glass consists of two magnifying lenses. The instrument is made from brass and painted brass. The small magnifying glass can be used as a desktop magnifier and would have been used to inspect photographs or small text. The exterior of the magnifier is painted brown to imitate the appearance of wood.
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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 Microscope Lamp

  The lamp is made from brass and blackened metal. The instrument stands on a circular base which is signed "Watson & Sons, 313 High Holborn, London. W.C." Connected to the base is a square column, on which the lamp is attached by an arm. The lamp can be adjusted vertically by the column and thumbscrew by loosening the thumbscrew and adjusting the height. The glass reservoir holds the oil and there is a small, circular glass plug which can be removed to add fuel. Above the reservoir is the burner. The instrument also consists of wick adjustment wheel which is stamped "E. Miller & Co." The chimney has a removable blue glass window for emitting the light when using it with a microscope.
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  Microscope Lamp

  The lamp is made from brass, metal and cast iron. The instrument stands on a splayed tripod base which is weighted, with the stand of the instrument connected to one of the legs. The rectangular base of the lamp seems to be made from blackened metal and acts as a well for oil. There is a small cap on the base which screws open to pour in the oil or paraffin. The instrument can be adjusted vertically by unscrewing the thumbscrew on the post and adjusting the height. The lamp also has a magnifier attachment via an arm and gimbal. The thumbscrew on the side of the magnifier allows the magnifier to be tilted and adjusted.
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  Charles Collins "Bockett" Microscope Lamp

  The microscope lamp has a brass base and tall post with adjustable holders for glass reservoir, chimney and a swiveling adjusting magnifier. The adjustable magnifier would have been used to direct the light on to the specimen or mirror.
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  R & J Beck Bullseye Condenser

  The bullseye condenser is made from cast iron and brass. The base is weighted cast iron, with a ring of brass around the pillar with "R&J BECK Lt. LONDON." etched into it. The instrument would have been used to direct and intensify light from a flame or lamp for the observation of a specimen under a microscope. The magnifying glass is connected to a brass arm which is attached to the pillar by a ball and socket joint. The underneath of the base is lined with red velvet.
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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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  Dark Wells & Holder

  The dark well sub-stage condenser comes with 3 inserts. The instrument is used to make a dark background for an object when using a Lieberkuhn microscope.
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  Live Box

  The live box is made from a brass plate with a brass cylinder mounted on it with a glass lens. The glass lens is mounted on blackened brass. The specimen would be placed on the circluar glass for observation on a microscopes stage.
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  Compressor Lever

  A compressor lever was designed to contain living (and moving) specimens for observation under a microscope. The thick brass plate connects to a swivel arm which provides a pivot for a bar that holds at one end a glass disk in a gimbal. The other end has a screw with a knurled knob that provides the leverage to press the glass disc down on the thick glass disc held in the plate with the specimen sandwiched between discs.
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  Baker Objective Canister

  The brass canister has a screw top which has the "1/4in Baker London" etched in a cursive font. The canister would be used to hold an objective lens which would be screwed into the lid and then screwed into the canister. The canister also has "1/4" etched into the bottom.
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  Lens Magnifier

  The instrument has three horn-framed lenses, each with a different strength. The lenses are hinged on a joint that allows them to be swiveled out for observation. They can also be used together when the instrument is closed as there is a small lens cut out.
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  Bullseye Condenser

  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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  Candlestick with Condenser

  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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  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.