Cary-type compound microscope with cabinet
Date: 1838-1840
Inventory Number: 1018
Classification: Microscope
Dimensions:microscope: 38.5 × 15.5 × 10.2 cm (15 3/16 × 6 1/8 × 4 in.)
case: 44.6 × 28 × 19.5 cm (17 9/16 × 11 × 7 11/16 in.)
Accessories: 5 objectives for simple microscope; 2 objectives for compound microscope (1 in can; 1 with lieberkuhn); cup diaphragm with lieberkuhn in brass box; brass box of cover slips; stage forceps; tweezers; 2 live boxes; frog plate; bull's eye; fish tube wire; wrench; chamois; 2 unmounted lenses; 40 prepared slides; standing case; 2 keys.
DescriptionThis microscope is in the style of those by Cary, London. The compound body tube has a long conical nosepiece, which screws into a ring on a horizontal arm. The arm moves forward and back by means of rack and pinion on the top of the post assembly that carries the stage and substage apparatus. An objective lens with a lieberkuhn and another (stored in a canister) each may screw into the nosepiece. When the compound body tube is not used, 5 simple objectives may be screwed directly into the ring on the arm.
The arm is attached to a vertical rod that moves up and down by rack and pinion inside a sleeve that supports the stage and the mirror. The stage is square and is fixed to the top of the sleeve. The substage mirror is plano-concave and fork-mounted on a sliding collar on the sleeve. This sleeve assembly is attached to a compass joint at the top of a tapered column rising above the disc-shaped base. The base is lead-weighted and has green wool flannel cloth glued to its underside to protect the table top.
The microscope has a wonderful fitted mahogany case cushioned with blue-green velvet. It has 4 drawers and a door. There are brass handles on each side of the case furniture.
The upper portion of the case, behind the door, holds the principal parts of the microscope stand and body, including a second compound eyepiece. Two small drawers in the upper portion hold microscope slides and have ribbons as drawer pulls. There are 40 prepared slides in total; mostly of insect parts and zoological specimens.
A larger drawer has a lift-out parts tray and storage underneath. This drawer and the tray also have ribbon pulls.The tray holds 5 simple objectives; 2 compound objectives, one with a lieberkuhn and one with a canister; a cup diaphragm with lieberkuhn, all stored in a brass box; a brass box with round mica cover slips; 2 live boxes (one cover missing); a wrench; stage forceps with blued prongs and a steel needle; brass tweezers; a wire for a fish tube.
Below the tray, the drawer holds the telescoping upright segments for the bull's eye condenser, the condenser on its arm, and its counterweighted screw finial. The lead-filled brass base for the bull's eye condenser is stored in the top of the case. Also in the drawer bottom is one of two steel keys; the other is currently hanging from the body of the microscope on a cord. (The one in the drawer works better.)
The drawer also holds a chamois and two paper-wrapped tiny lenses (one marked "1/4 inch" and the other "Allens."). A folded note in the drawer explains that "The paper marked Allens' cont[a]yns a magnifyer made by Mr Allen. and which fits into cell No 3.-- the 1/4 of an inch magnifyer, I am ignorant how I obtained." The obverse of the note reads: "cont[a]y[n]s 2 magnifyers: One made by Allen, the other 1/4 in focus." [See inscriptions for precise transcription.] This note was originally folded around the two tiny lenses.
Below the cabinet portion of the case are two more drawers, each opened with a key. The top drawer currently contains a frog plate of brass with a glass plate attached to a wooden board. There are silk ribbons and leather straps. The bottom drawer is presently empty.