DESCRIPTION:
This is a small compound microscope that arises from a painted green and gold-toned weighted foot via a ball and socket joint to the bottom of the pillar. A small knob on the foot adjusts the tension on the ball and socket joint to allow the user to lock the position of inclination. The single-sided gimbaled mirror is attached to the pillar via a pin. Focusing of the main tube is by a knurled knob acting on the rack and pinion from the right side. The objective is the French button type and is divisible. A single lyre-shaped stage clip is attached to a sleeve that rides up or down on the pillar.
HISTORY OF THIS MICROSCOPE
As can be seen in the image to the left, this microscope is the medium size of a series constructed on the same basic plan. A microscope of this type, but of a the slightly larger size, was sold by J.H. Steward as advertised in their 1871 catalog, the catalog entry shown to the right. This series of microscopes must have been imported to various countries in large numbers, and are still commonly seen on the antique market today. The largest variant has a rack and pinion coarse focus and a bullseye condenser attached to the tube. The next size smaller lacked the condenser, and the smallest, lacked the rack and pinion, as in the miniature example on this site. The company in France which actually produced these remains unknown as of the time of this writing (September 2016).
