Items

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  James Brown Monocular Microscope

  The brass monocular microscope has a blackened finish and stands on a claw-foot base. The foot ends in an inclination joint which allows the microscope to be angled. The coarse focus functions by a sliding mechanism with a screwed clamp to control tension on main tube. The fine focus functions by adjusting the knurled thumbscrew located at the top of the pillar. The fixed circular stage is made from glass and has an iris diaphragm with 4 apertures. The diaphragm is part of the stage, rather than the usual design of being located underneath. The sub-stage mirror is concave-convex and is set in a gimbal which allows it to be angled to catch the light. The fitted mahogany case has its original bail and lock, however, there is no key with the instrument. The interior of the case has compartments to hold the accessories and dissembled microscope.
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  Aloe Herstein Microscope

  The compound microscope is made from brass and japanned cast iron. The tripod base is painted black and connected to the substage mirror via a pillar. The mirror is attached via a gimbal joint that allows it to rotate to catch the light for observation. The coarse focus functions by a rack and pinion mechanism which is controlled by thumbscrews on either side of the limb. Fine focusing is controlled by a small thumb screw at the back of the body tube. The square fixed stage has a slide manipulator which holds the specimen in place.
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  R & J Beck Microscope

  The compound microscope is made from brass and japanned brass. The monocular microscope stands on a horseshoe base which is weighted for balance when the instrument is angled. The pillar is connected to the base, and ends in an inclination joint. Above the joint is the square fixed stage which has a circular cut out for observation. The substage mirror is connected via a gimbal which allows it to be rotated to catch the light. The microscope also has a substage iris diaphragm. The draw tube is japanned black, and coarse focusing is achieved by sliding the body tube through the draw tube. The body tube is made from brass. The microscope also has fine focusing which is controlled by a thumbscrew at the top of the limb.
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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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  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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  Nachet et Fils Microscope

  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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  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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  R & J Beck Educational Microscope

  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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  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.