Some Corrections and Additions to Bracegirdles Notes on Modern Microscope Manufacturers

Below is a list of corrections and additions to Brian Bracegirdle's book, 'Notes on Modern Microscope Manufacturers.' This book, first published in 1996 is an essential reference that everybody interested in the history of the subject should own. It is available from the Quekett Microscopical Club. Below are some corrections that I have discovered over the years. They are by no means neccesarily complete as I have not checked every single fact in that book. Nevertheless, these are the points that I myself was able to correct over the years since the book's initial publication.

Page 17: Although it states the Browning firm ceased in 1914, it continued until at least 1924.

Page 19: Bulloch serial numbers now known have serial numbers ranging from 32 to 675.

Page 34: Hartnack was not Oberhauser's nephew by birth, rather he was the husband of Hartnack's niece.

Page 35: Hensholdt sold microscopes until at least the 1950's

Page 48: Mirand was in business until at least 1895, as evidenced by an example on this website.

Page 56: Pike actually did make their own version of Bar-limb microscopes, though they imported most of their others.

Page 73: Regarding James Swift's Hints to the Unitiated on Selection and ... was actually published in 1880. In addition The Microscope and Accessory Apparatus... was published in 1883.

Page 74: Robert Tolles invented oil immersion objectives, he did not just design them.



-IN ADDITION: There are many bonafied makers of microscopes not listed in Bracegirdle's book. One example would be the French Firm of Soleil, which produced microscopes, most likely from about 1840 to 1860. Many of these are discussed on Microscopist.net.