INCLINING COMPOUND MICROSCOPE WITH HORSESHOE FOOT:

c. 1890

UNSIGNED, LIKELY FRENCH

DESCRIPTION

HISTORY

DESCRIPTION:
This is a 'black and brass' compound continental style microscope, likely of French manufacture circa 1890.  It has a 3 magnification divisible objective, draw tube, articulated bullseye condenser attached to the tube, articulated substage mirror and under-stage wheel of apertures.  It sits on a heavy iron horse shoe foot. Coarse focus is push-pull and there is a micrometer fine focus via the pillar. Two original stage clips are present. The mirror is plano-concave. 

Condition is very good, noting very scattered tiny losses to the black painted foot, and the expected scuffs to the top of the stage, with very minor areas of lacquer loss.  The optics are very good, especially the lower two powers though with the bottom-most element included, (highest power), the image is not as sharp. 

HISTORY:

This is a typical medium size advanced student microscope of the nineteenth century which, with variable magnification, fine focus, variable apertures and an articulated mirror and bullseye condenser, allowed the user to do most of the usual forms of microscopical observation except for very high power work.