Beck student compound microscope
Date: circa 1879
Inventory Number: 1140
Classification: Microscope
Dimensions:microscope: 25 × 8 × 12.7 cm (9 13/16 × 3 1/8 × 5 in.)
case: 12.4 × 28.5 × 17.1 cm (4 7/8 × 11 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
Accessories: objective 2 in. Ross No. 20372 in original case; empty case for 1.5 in. objective R&J Beck; ocular
Bibliography:An Illustrated Catalogue of Microscopes and Other Scientific Instruments Manufactured by R. & J. Beck
DescriptionThis is a Beck student compound microscope. It has a thick horse-shoe shaped brass base filled with lead. It supports a bright brass turned pillar with a hinged joint that allows the body to be inclined. The post and bracket and body tube are enameled black. The body is equipped with a ocular draw tube and a single nosepiece. Coarse focus is by the standard rack and pinion. Fine focus is by a screw on top of the post.
There is a rectangular brass stage with a single stage clip (the other is missing). A bull's eye condenser is attached to a corner of the stage by means of an articulated arm. Substage apparatus inculdes a rotating wheel diaphragm with a socket for a condenser (although none is present); and a plano-concave mirror on a swinging arm.
There are two eyepieces, a Ross 2-inch objective in its original canister, and an empty R. & J. Beck 1 1/2 -inch objective canister. The other is by Ross: 2 inches.
The fitted wooden case is coverd in brown-painted cloth on the exterior and lined with white paper on the interior.
Signedon heel of foot: R & J BECK / LONDON & PHILADELPHIA
stamped on heel of foot: OGDEN / BOSTON
on 2 inch objective canister: Ross, / London
on 2 inch objective: Ross. / London
on 1 1/2 inch objective canister: R & J BECK / LONDON
Inscribedstamped on heel of foot: 7932
Primary SourcesR. & J. Beck, Ltd., An Illustrated Catalogue of Microscopes and Other Scientific Instruments Manufactured by R. & J. Beck (London: R. & J. Beck, Ltd.; Philadelphia: W. H. Walmsley, 1879), 23-25.
ProvenanceErnst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 140), Harvard Medical School.