FRENCH SIMPLE CYLINDER MICROSCOPE
c. 1883 through 2ndQUARTER 20th C.
MODEL:'BOTANICAL MICROSCOPE WITH ILLUMINATING MIRROR' or 'THE NATURALIST'S MICROSCOPE'
(UNSIGNED)
DESCRIPTION:
This microscope is very similar to another in this collection. This miniature simple microscope is 37 mm in greatest diameter at the bottom and 57 mm high. It employs a simplistic lens which is flat at the bottom and curved on top that is in focus when very close to, or even touching the subject. This is quite similar to many other French made microscopes sold during the late 1900's and into the 2nd quarter of the twentieth century. A slide is introduced into the slit from the side, and the knurled ring is turned to move the slide up towards the lens which needs to touch or nearly touch the object to be in focus. The mirror can be used to direct transmitted light, but there is a hole in the bottom so light can shin in that way if a dry specimen is present and it is held up to a light source. This example, unlike the other, is not labeled as 'Made in France' and is slightly smaller. It also has a diaphragm under the slide to limit extraneous light. Also unlike the other example, the eyepiece in this one screws in an out and therefore can provide a slightly more accurate focus than using just the knurled ring, or the push-pull focusing of the other.
HISTORY OF THIS MICROSCOPE
Examples of this microscope are often attributed to the 3rd quarter of the nineteenth century, but in fact, this instrument was sold in the last quarter of the ninteenth century, and much later than that. This instrument was advertised in the 'Youth's Companion' for 1883 and it is also seen in a catalog entry of 1903. The engraving to the left is from a catalog from B.Kahn & Son circa 1900. The inscription 'Made in France' is, however, a late 19th century requirement which was required starting in March of 1891.
