MEDIUM SIZE FOLDING 'COMMON FLOWER OR INSECT MICROSCOPE'

DESCRIPTION:

This is the usual or 'medium' sized version of the folding 'Jones' 'Common Flower or Insect microscope'. Like most, the lens and handle fold around the slot which projects out from the middle brass support. The piece projecting out from the main central brass part of the instrument has a slot and a springy piece of brass underneath. The specimen holder has a forceps on one side and a spike on the other. The support for this specimen holder slides on the sprung slot to allow focusing. The spring provides some tension to hold the forceps fitting in place. Tightening the knurled knob, which holds the specimen holder, tightens the grasp around it and also tightens it in the slot to fix its location once focused. The length when fully unfolded from the tip of the handle to the top of the lens casing is about 80 mm. The distance from the outside edge of the main brass center to the end of the slotted piece is about 56 mm. The needle/forceps measures about 50 mm end to end. This system was the standard for a hundred years. Indeed this example without case, must simply be dated as '19th Century' as the same model was produced virtually unchanged to about one hundred years. The history of the Folding 'Flower or Insect' Microscope is discussed on the web page dedicated to Folding Microscopes of this type.