Items

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  "Improved" Huxley-Type Dissecting Microscope

  The brass Huxley-type dissecting microscope can function both as a simple or compound microscope by using one or multiple objective lenses. The instrument stands on a tripod base, with two of the curved legs angled and the rear leg standing vertical. The circular stage is made from glass and is painted black. The substage mirror is connected to the rear leg and is set in a gimbal. The arm is connected to a column which extends from the rear leg via a rack and pinion mechanism. The thumbscrew connects to the rear leg controls the coarse focusing by moving the arm closer or further from the stage. The objective lens sits in a circular cut out of the arm, directly above the stage. The microscope has a wooden chest-style case with a lower interior drawer, which holds the accessories. The case is secured by a lock and push mechanism.
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  Round Base Compound Microscope

  The compound microscope is made from lacquered brass and stands on a weighted circular base. The cylinder pillar screws into base and is connected to the stage and body-tube. The microscope can be disassembled in order to fit into the original case. The instrument has a square fixed with stage clip attachments to hold the specimen in place. The stage is spring-loaded and the lower section is painted black. The sub-stage mirror is connected to the lower section of the pillar and is set in a gimbal which allows it to be revolved. The body-tube screws into an arm extension attached to the top of the pillar. Coarse focusing functions by rack work controlled by a thumbscrew at the side of the pillar. The microscope focuses by moving the body-tube closer or further from the stage. The case has wooden compartments to hold the dissembled parts of the instrument and the lid is lined with red velvet. The case is secured by a lock and key which is not present with the microscope.
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  Society of Arts-Style Microscope

  The compound microscope is made from brass. The monocular microscope stands on a claw foot base which is mounted onto a mahogany base. The base slides into the mahogany case. The curved limb ends in an inclination joint. The square stage is fixed, and has a small shelf attachment which holds the specimen in place. Beneath the stage is an iris diaphragm with 4 apertures that can be rotated. The stage attachment can be moved up and down in order to observe the specimen. The substage mirror is set in a gimbal and connected to the pillar via an arm. Coarse focusing is achieved by a rack and pinion mechanism which moves the body tube closer or further from the stage. The case is fitted, and has a built in drawer for specimen slides. The body tube can be unscrewed to fit into the case and has a compartment which it stands in. The case lock is working but the key is missing.
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  James Brown Microscope

  The brass compound microscope is signed on the body-tube "James Brown, 76 St Vincent St, Glasgow." The instrument was known as an "English Medical Microscope" and was made and retailed by J. Parkes & Son, Birmingham in 1882. Parkes supplied these microscopes to various medical schools and hospitals throughout Britain. The microscope is professionally polished and lacquered. The instrument stands on a horse-shoe weighted stand which is made of brass. The pillar ends in an inclination joint which allows the microscope to be angled. The sub-stage mirror is double-sided and sits in a gimbal. The square fixed stage has two stage clips which hold the specimens in place. Beneath the stage is a sub-stage diaphragm, which be be unscrewed and removed. Focusing functions by smooth sliding tube with extension and fine focus is operated by the thumbscrew at the back of the body tube. The chest-style case has compartments to hold the accessories and inside the lid is a chart of magnifying force. The case is secured by two brass swinging hooks and a lock.
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  Society of Arts-Style Microscope

  The compound microscope follows the "Society of Arts" design with pre-society thread. This dates it to the late 1850s or early 1860s. In 1854, the Society of Arts gave a prize for the design of a low cost microscope that would come with two eyepieces and two objectives, a bullseye condenser, stage forceps, and a live box. The microscope stands on a claw-foot base which is japanned black. The pillar is connected to the substage mirror via a gimbal joint. The fixed square stage has holes for the stage clips and small magnifier. The coarse focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism which extends a triangular column out of the pillar that moves the body-tube. Fine focus is achieved via a small thumbscrew at the bottom of the body-tube. The mahogany case has small drawer to hold slides and other items. The door has had some shrinkage and the lock no longer lines up so the door will not close all the way.
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  Simple Dissecting Microscope

  The simple dissecting microscope is made from brass and wood. The lenses, mirror, and other components fit into compartments on the underside of the stage. The stand is folded in the legs hold all the components in place. The stage has a circular cut out for observation of a specimen. The instrument should come with three lenses, but only one remains with the microscope. The mirror holder is present, but the mirror is missing. There is another arm and body tube attachment which would allow the microscope to operate as a compound microscope; however, it is not clear if it is original to the microscope.
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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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  Wilson Screw Barrel Microscope

  The screw barrel microscope is made from brass and has an ivory handle which can be dissembled to fit into the original case. The microscope consists of a cylinder with an external screw thread. The microscope has a mounted objective lens with a condenser lens screwed into the other side to illuminate the specimen during observation. Coarse focusing is achieved by screwing the body tube along the screw thread which adjusts the distance between lenses. The microscope is also equipped with an extension attachment that is needed to mount the objectives when using the stage forceps. The instrument can be used as a simple or compound microscope, depending on how many objectives are used. The case has a red velvet interior that has compartments for the dissembled microscope and its accessories. The case is secured by two brass swing hooks; however, one is missing.
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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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  Chevallier-Type Top Mounted Microscope

  The compound microscope is made from lacquered brass. The pillar is screwed into a socket screw that secures the microscope to the top of the case. At the top of the pillar is an inclination joint which allows the microscope to be angled for observation. The body-tube can be slide into an attachment on the arm. Coarse focusing is achieved by sliding the body-tube through the draw-tube closer or further from the stage. The rectangular mechanical stage has an attachment that holds the specimen in place as well as a bulls-eye condenser which is attached via a pin. The specimen can be adjusted vertically by the thumbscrew on the side. The microscope also has a sub-stage iris diaphragm which rotates via a pin attachment. There is also a thumbscrew located underneath the stage that controls the space between the iris diaphragm and the stage. The sub-stage mirror is one-sided and is held in a gimbal. The case is made from mahogany and has compartments to hold the dissembled microscope. The case has a functional lock and key.
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  Simple Microscope

  The microscope is designed along the Antonie van Leeuwenhoek microscope and is made from brass and wood. The brass plate has two small holes for observation. The specimen would be placed on the specimen forceps which are not present with the instrument. The instrument does have a attachment to add forceps. The handle is made from wood.
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  Replica Simple Microscope

  The simple wooden stand microscope replica is hand turned in East-Indian rosewood. Bi-convex lens is hand ground and polished to give a magnification of approximately 10X and is mounted between turned brass sleeves. The brass specimen pin and lens sleeves are lightly chemically aged to give an antique appearance. The finish is shellac based followed by "Renaissance" micro-crystalline wax. The instrument has a spring specimen holder.
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  Magnifying Glass

  The magnifying glass is made from black stained mahogany with a long decorative turned handle.
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  Magnifying Glass

  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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  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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  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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  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.
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  Coddington Microscope

  The Coddington lens was invented in 1829 by Henry Coddington. This microscope is made from brass and wood and contains a single lens with two curved sides and a groove cut around the middle of the lens which acts as a lens stop. The microscope offers a clear image from 1 inch away from the front objective lens. This microscope was used in the field by botanists and naturalists due to its small size, good magnification and portability.
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  Coddington Microscope

  Invented in 1829 by Henry Coddington, this brass and wooden microscope is made up of a single lens with two curved sides and a groove cut around the middle of the lens which acts as a lens stop. The microscope offers an image from 1" of the front objective. This microscope was used in the field by botanists and naturalists due to its small size and good magnification.
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  Sentry-Box Type Microscope

  The "Sentry-Box" type of compound microscope is one of several types of instruments, all made of wood and decorated cardboard, manufactured in the toy district of Bavaria, Germany (near Nuremberg.) The main styles included a Culpeper-type, Sentry box-type, Solar, and Side Pillar-type. These monocular microscopes were all made in the same style with only minor variations in the decorations for nearly half a century. This microscope is signed by "JFF" within a heart, one of a few known signatures often appearing on these instruments.
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  Collins Compound Student Microscope

  The student monocular microscope is manufactured by Charles Collins. Made from brass, the compound microscope is engraved on the modified Crouch-style foot: "C. Collins Optician 157 Gt Portland St London." Collins designed the tube of these microscopes to be uncommonly large in diameter so that eyepieces from all his microscopes could be interchangeable. The microscope has concave mirror, coarse and fine focus as well as a substage stop wheel. Collins' microscopes were good quality, reasonably priced equipment that were considered inferior to high-priced makers such as Powell and Lealand, or Ross. However, this would not effect Collins' popularity as his market were mainly amateurs, students and medical professionals.