B&L BB continental compound microscope
Date: circa 1899
Inventory Number: 1351
Classification: Microscope
Dimensions:unassembled microscope: 31.7 × 16 × 11.3 cm (12 1/2 × 6 5/16 × 4 7/16 in.)
case: 41 × 17.7 × 22 cm (16 1/8 × 6 15/16 × 8 11/16 in.)
Accessories: B&L objectives on triple nosepiece and with cans (3): 1/12, 1/6, 2/3"; Zeiss objective for oil immersion: 40; Leitz mechanical stage; oculars (2): 1, 2; Abbe condensor; immersion oil can; standing case; key; spare stage clips.
Bibliography:Microscopes and Accessories: Catalogue A
DescriptionThis is a Bausch & Lomb continental stand BB compound microscope. It has a brass body tube with the inner draw tube nickel plated and calibrated. The horseshoe-shaped foot is black enameled brass filled with lead. The pillar is also black enameled brass. The body tube is fitted with a three-objective, revolving nosepiece, which is nickel-plated. The openings are marked for the existing objectives: 2/3, 1/6, 1/12. The coarse focus is by rack and pinion. The fine focus is a vertical screw on the post above the stage. The index arrow is attached to a screw on the post bracket carrying the rack and pinion.
The rectangular stage is nickel-plated and topped with a slab of hard rubber. A mechanical stage by Ernst Leitz Wetzlar is screwed to it. This stage is of red brass and nickel-plated brass.
Below the stage, there is a condenser with two iris diaphrams (one located above and the other below) on a swing-out mount with a vertical screw adjustment. There is also a plano-concave mirror on swinging arm with a stop at the central position.
The microscope uses a cloth lining in the draw tube in the fashion of Spencer stands. [See early file card for further information]
There is an accompanying standing case with a brass handle on top. It has two pull-out drawers for objectives and eyepieces.
Signedmarked on foot in old English lettering: Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N. Y.
on revolving nosepiece: BAUSCH & LOMB OPT. CO.
marked on the clamp of the mechanical stage: E. Leitz Weltzar
on objectives (3): Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N. Y.
on cannisters (3): BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. / ROCHESTER, N. Y.
on objective: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat logo]
one eyepieces (2): BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO.
Inscribedserial no. on medalion of the heel of the foot: 45248
on fine focus screw on top of post: PAT. FEB. 16, 1897.
Historical AttributesThis microscope was owned by Dr. F. William Marlow, Jr., an internist who was a longtime faculty member of the Harvard Medical School. Dr. Marlow also owned microscope nos. 1329 and 1333.
Primary SourcesBausch & Lomb Optical Co., Microscopes and Accessories: Catalogue A (Rochester, NY: Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., 1900), 34-35.
ProvenanceDr. F. William Marlow, Jr., Brookline, MA; Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, c. 1980; transfer to CHSI, 1980.