Notes

Outline

ANTIQUE MICROSCOPES Graham Marsh

ANTIQUE MICROSCOPES What is an antique microscope? Antique – over 100 years old Microscope – a device using lenses to make small objects look large Magnifying lenses have been around for thousands of years but the first accepted “microscopes” were recorded in the 16th century 1535 – Fracastoro of Verona used 2 spectacle lenses to form a microscope

Leeuwenhoek One of the series of microscopes made by Leeuwenhoek All the known examples are in museums. Replicas have been made        I have one on display.

17th century microscopes  By 1690, basic tripod models with simple “draw tube” focussing, were being made. At the same time, Hooke was also writing his “Micrographia” (1665). VIRTUALLY ALL 17TH CENTURY MICROSCOPES ARE IN MUSEUM & NOT AVAILABLE TO THE ANTIQUES COLLECTOR.

18th century microscopes Some 18th century microscopes are in the public domain and are very much sought after. See example

Accessories

Other Formats Wilson SCREW-BARREL microscope     See example of a replica

Fashion Marshall Built-in samples For the “Gentleman” to impress his friends

Serious Research Side Pillar Designs English makers such as Cuff strengthened the pillar.

Side Pillar Designs The Germans made it out of wood.

Side Pillar Designs And the French made the box look pretty.

Portability Chest Type Edward Nairne

“Most Improved” Jones “Most Improved” this set by Carpenter (circa 1830). See example

Drum Type BENJAMIN MARTIN “drum “ type Sold as a compendium See example

“TOY” drum type toy microscope sold in huge quantities by French makers See example

Pocket Microscopes Simple or “flea” microscope See example

Pocket Compendiums Cary – Gould compound or simple pocket compendium See example

Georgian makers The Adams family Ramsden W & S Jones Peter Dollond

DOLLOND Dollond invented (?) the achromatic doublet probably the single most important discovery of the century changed the world of astronomy at a stroke because machine tools were not available had no significant effect on microscopy

1828 William Nicol invented the Nicol prism foremost accessory for polarising See example

Polarised Light Using Nicol Prisms

1830’s - LISTER Lister designed the first microscope objectives by calculation instead of empirically. Andrew Ross took up Lister’s design and made cover correction lenses in 1837  see example

The “Big Three” Andrew Ross Hugh Powel of Powel & Leyland James Smith of Smith & Beck

Andrew Ross Bar Limb over flat “Y” foot with side plates - copied by everyone See example

Hugh Powell Best quality Small numbers Bespoke instruments Most sought after today

James Smith Lister gave James Smith the job of making microscopes to hold his objectives recognised the market needs

Binoculars This achromatic binocular was registered in 1861 by Dancer.

Wenham Prism Splits Beam from Objective Converts monocular to binocular Inexpensive (relatively) Only suitable for low powers

Prisms The Wenham Prism compared with the Dancer Prism

Grand Microscopes Powell & Leyland No.1  circuit stage Binocular microscope (mine)

Grand Microscopes Powell & Leyland No.1 binocular microscope set

Grand Microscopes R & J Beck’s Large Best binocular microscope set

Grand Microscopes Ross “Radial” “universal inclining and rotating microscope” See example

Not so Grand Microscopes Society of Arts    Type microscope

Not so Grand Microscopes Soc of Arts microscope in its case See example

Other Victorian Makers Henry Crouch Student microscopes to comprehensive binocular sets

Other Victorian Makers James Parkes of Birmingham

Other Victorian Makers James Swift & Son Specialist maker Polarising microscopes

Other Victorian Makers William Watson & Sons Edinburgh Student Van Heurck Service

Other Victorian Makers? Chas Collins Chas baker John Browning Chadburns Field & Son Steward Negretti & Zambra Moritz Pillischer Stanley

Overseas Victorian Makers U.S.A France Germany

Time Line

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