W. & S. Jones Improved compound and simple microscope
Date: circa 1795
Inventory Number: 1041
Classification: Microscope
Dimensions:unassembled microscope: 32.5 × 17.7 × 17.7 cm (12 13/16 × 6 15/16 × 6 15/16 in.)
case: 38.5 × 21 × 20.5 cm (15 3/16 × 8 1/4 × 8 1/16 in.)
box: 7.6 × 24.8 × 22.9 cm (3 × 9 3/4 × 9 in.)
Material:
ivory, glass, mica, wool, cloth, silk, mahogany, brass, steel, copper, Accessories: rotating disc with 6 objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; objectives with Lieberkuhn reflectors (2); Lieberkuhn attachment; conical diaphragm, stage forceps with calipers; fish plate; silk ribbon; tweezers; Bonanni spring stage; prepared ivory slides (7), standing case.
DescriptionThis is an incomplete example of the W. and S. Jones "improved microscope." It has a rectangular brass pillar mounted on a rectangular, mahogany base. A slide moved by rack and pinion carries the stage. At the top of the pillar is a brass socket into which slides the horizontal arm carrying the microscope body tube. The original eyepiece section above the arm is missing. The rotating wheel of objectives remains screwed to the underside of the arm. It can be unscrewed and replaced with Lieberkuhn objectives. Focus is by rack and pinion motion of the stage.
The stage is a circular brass ring with three tabs. All are pierced and one has a sleeve; they are for mounting stage accessories such as a stage forceps and calipers, a fish plate, or an arm to carry a condenser. The kit has a Bonanni spring stage.
A slide on the pillar carries a fork-mounted mirror. One side of the mirror is plane; the other glass is replaced by plain plastic over cardstock.
The microscope is mounted on a mahogany base with a parts drawer filled with accessories. Sockets for the objectives are cushioned with green woven wool cloth and currently topped with glass. There is a pyramidal case with a brass ring on top.
Objectives include the rotating brass wheel with six small objectives labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Also present are two objectives with Lieberkuhns.
Other accessories include a Lieberkuhn attachment, a brass fish plate, green silk ribbon wrapped on a card; a brass tweezers, a brass mounted steel forceps with a calipers on the opposite end, 7 ivory prepared slides (6 held together by 19th century, green silk-wrapped copper wire), a brass conical diaphragm, and an unidentified plant specimen.
The case and brass parts were restored. The key plate is a replacement.