THE ORIGINAL FORM OF 'NEW MICROSCOPE' OF POWELL & LEALAND

MAKER: POWELL & LEALAND

MODEL: 'NEW MICROSCOPE'

DATED: 1843

SIGNED ON THE ARM: 'Powell & Lealand, Makers, London' and also dated '1843'

The fixed bar is raised above the surface of the uppermost plate by a narrower piece of brass in the center of it. A removable brass insert(left) fits in from the front, filling in the spaces(arrows, right), on either side of the central piece. This serves as a full-length slide-rest and since it is removeable, it allows the insertion of an accessory slide-holding piece when the inserted piece shown on this page is removed. The brass spacer is not rectangular, and being angled, narrower in front and wider in back, only allows the insert(which is also angled), to fit in from the front.

An example of the accessory insert for the fixed bar is shown to the left. It has rounded tabs on the right and left sides, apparently designed to hold an item thicker than an ordinary slide.