BENJAMIN MARTIN MICROSCOPE COMPENDIUM (STAGE)

MAKER: BENJAMIN MARTIN

c. 1760's

SIGNED: Martin Invt. et Fecit London. N^o. 9.

The stage for the Martin Universel microscope as part of the compendium, is round with a single wing. This wing has a hole to receive the stage forceps, and a slot to accept for fishplate. On the underside of the wing has a thin piece of brass attached to act as a spring to keep the fishplate taut.

A second, accessory stage for the Martin compendium can be inserted in the hole on the wing of the main stage. This accessory has three openings. The center one houses a large glass plate, and is suitable for dissecting. To each side of the larger opening is a smaller opening. One of these holds a black and white disk for studying opaque specimens. The other is a wet cell which has a concave glass disk with a swiveling cover that can be brought over it to contain a liquid specimen. As this 3-disk accessory is rotated, each of the three portions pass into the center of the optical axis of the microscope.