| DESCRIPTION | HISTORY |
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This is a relatively large oil lamp for use with a microscope. It is designed to use kerosene, also known as paraffin oil. It is unsigned except for the knob for the wick height adjustment which is signed 'E. Miller Co., Made in U.S.A.' The instrument arises from a flat equiaxed three-toed foot painted glossy black. From one toe arises a square piller on which the main instrument slides up and down. A knurled knob can lock the vertical position anywhere within the range. The large reservoir is made of black painted tin with a screw on cap. The tin chimney is supported by a side arm with a pin which fits into a recepticle on the side of the reservoir. The front of the chimney has a pair of flanges to accept the clear glass front. A brass collar around the base of the burner supports a large gimbaled Nelson-corrected bullseye condenser through an articulated arm. The bullseye is encased in a wide lacquered brass ring.
This lamp was produced by Swift & Son from no later than 1890 through at least 1906. It was apparently first noticed in the JRMS of 1895. Nelson's name is specifically associated with the corrected bullseye lens. There were two models. The other model had rack and pinion vertical adjustment and screw sideways adjustment. For half the price, this model had neither mechanical adjustments. For an example of a similar lamp by Watson, but incorporating those mechanical movements, and called the 'Premier' lamp see the Watson Premier Lamp Page.