Queen Acme kerosene microscope lamp
Date: circa 1890
Inventory Number: 2007-1-0060
Classification: Microscope Light Source
Dimensions:28 × 11 × 15 cm (11 × 4 5/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
box: 29.2 × 12.4 × 15.2 cm (11 1/2 × 4 7/8 × 6 in.)
Bibliography:Abridged Catalogue of Microscopes
Queen Catalogues (2 volumes), The
DescriptionThis is an oil lamp known as "The Acme Lamp," furnished by James W. Queen & Co. It has a flat cast iron base painted with black enamel and gold trim. It has a brass post on which slides a moveable clamp. The clamp holds an adjustable brass rod ending with 2 brass spring clamps in a shallow dish. The clamps and dish support the glass tank of the lamp.
The tank is made of molded blue glass with the embossed word "NUTMEG." A brass wire handle is secured under the top lip. The fittings for the wick are brass and the lantern is clear glass. Three vertical steel wires hold a lamp shade consisting of a metal cylinder with a movable inner sleeve that is flat on top. The insert is called an "extra shade" by Queen, who explains it is to cut of light to the eyes, although this example is less stylish than other examples. The lower portion of the cylindrical shade has a bull's eye condenser to produce a beam of light from the flame. The condenser is mounted in a removable cell. The shade is japanned.