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QUEKETT-TYPE of DISSECTING MICROSCOPE (later form)

DATE: c. 1865

MAKER: probably Samuel Highley

MODEL: HIGHLEY'S 'NEW DISSECTING MICROSCOPE'

UNSIGNED

SERIAL NUMBER: None

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ENGLAND

DESCRIPTION HISTORY

DESCRIPTION:

Queckett Dissecting Microscope, early form This mostly wooden dissecting microscope is constructed mainly of mahogany. The stage is cut out on the underside for storage of its brass parts when it is folded up. The pillar pushes into a brass sleeve permanently attached to the stage. Through a slot in the bottom of the pillar is pushed the brass lever with a forked end which cleverly snaps in place to engage a staple which forms its fulcrum. This provides a nice focusing mechanism. There are two interchangeable lenses which also store in the cutouts. Two brass tubes with ivory inserts also store underneath, and can accept blades or needles for dissecting. There is a brass plate which in use sits under the lens on the stage for dissection; the example at the Science Museum in London has a glass plate for this purpose; the brass substitute in this example is a replacement. The plate stores on one of the leaves when not in use. When opened, the leaves are secured in place with hooks and eyes which result in a surprisingly sturdy instrument. A single hook and eye holds the leaves closed when the parts are packed inside.


HISTORY OF THE 'QUECKETT' DISSECTING MICROSCOPES

Engraving from Queckett, 1855 Engraving from Queckett, 1855 This type of microscope was first constructed about the middle of the 19th century and quickly underwent improvements. The improved design has been attributed to John T. Queckett, but credit has been given to Samuel Highley for its initial construction and later for the simpler and less expensive version in this collection shown above. In its most improved and sophisticated version, as designed by Quekett, it had rack and pinion focusing, a brass stage surface, a cut-out in the stage and a substage mirror, the two latter features allowing its use for viewing transparent objects. The later version, as shown on this web page, has lever focusing, a solid opaque wooden stage surface, and is without the capacity of working on transparent specimens. The instrument in this collection shown above on this page is identical to number 11/11 of Bracegirdle's CD catalog of the microscopes of the Science Museum, London.   The engraving to the right is the earliest illustrated version I could find; note the substage mirror is present, but not the rack and pinion focusing later provided. Apparently later, as shown on the left, Highley simplified it to reduce the cost by eliminating both its substage mirror and rack and pinion focusing as reported and illustrated on page 128 of the journal 'Popular Science Review', vol IV, of 1865.

I had previously (and incorrectly) assumed that because this was a simpler version of Quekett's microscope, that it was earlier, but as shown here, it was actually later and I am very grateful to Dr Brian Stevenson for helping me to correct this mistake and for the associated reference information.

References:

1. Lawson, Henry (ed): 'Cheap Form of Dissecting Microscope' Popular Science Review. Vol IV, 1865 p128.
2. The London Review of Politics, Society, Literature, Art & Science, Vol 9, Sept 3 1864, p265