Back Button

MICROSCOPE-ANTIQUES.COM     © 2013-15.




CLOTH INSPECTION MICROSCOPE:

c. 1875

UNSIGNED, BUT KNOWN TO BE A J. B. DANCER PRODUCT.

Serial Number:None

DESCRIPTION HISTORY

Microscope

 Microscope

 Microscope

 Microscope

Microscope

 Microscope

DESCRIPTION

This is a compound microscope designed for the inspection of cloth, but usable to inspect any surface. It arises on a flat I-shaped pillar from a circular foot with a large hole in it. The foot has a diameter of about 3 1/2 inches (90 mm). The hole is 1 3/4 inches (46 mm) in diameter. It is about 8 1/2 (215 mm) inches high when in focus. Field of view is about 2.5 mm. Focusing is push-pull in the arm sleeve. There is an articulated bullseye to illuminate opaque subjects. Although the objective brass has a slightly different tint than the rest of the instrument, it is exactly the same as on another known example and hence likely original.

On the outside of the cylindrical case for another example of this microscope, the label proudly reads:

'This Microscope is intended to be used for the examination of Mildew, Spots, Stains, on Cab..., Linen, etc. It will --- serve to ascertain the quality and uniformity of fabrics of every description...Price in Case...MADE AND SOLD ONLY BY J.B. DANCER, OPTICIAN, 43 CROSS STREET, MANCHESTER.'

HISTORY OF J.B. DANCER MICROSCOPES AND CLOTH INSPECTION

dancer thread counterJames Benjamin Dancer was a famous maker of all kinds of scientific apparatus including instruments for physics experiments, microscopes, and other apparatus. He is well-remembered as the inventor of the microphotograph and also as the maker of physics apparatus for Joule. His microscopes are extremely well made and a priviledge to handle. Because he lived and worked in Manchester, a center for the textile industry, it is not suprising that he made a cloth-inspection microscope, and also thread counters, as shown to the left (image supplied by, and used with the kind permission of Mr Craig Sutton).

A traditional compound microscope by Dancer is also on this site.

silk mercer microscopeDancer was not the only maker to produce a compound cloth inspection microscope. As shown to the right, Swift also made one, and his was more complex, incorporating a calibrated bottom plate to allow thread counting, and also an additional rack and pinion control to move the optical part of the microscope back and forth while the foot remained stationary. This was referred to as a 'Silk Mercer's* Microscope.'   The image is from the JRMS of 1881. Beck also made a Silk-Mercer's microscope.

*A mercer was a dealer in fine fabrics, especially silk.