Zeiss stand I laboratory compound microscope
Date: circa 1886
Inventory Number: 1044
Classification: Microscope
Subject:
Maker: Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena (1846 - 1904)
Maker: Carl Zeiss (company timeline) (founded 1846)
Maker: Bausch & Lomb Optical Company (1853-present)
Maker: Ernst Leitz (company) (1849 - 1986)
Inventor: Ernst Abbe (1840 - 1905)
Maker: R. Winkel GmbH dba Winkel-Zeiss (1928 - 1954)
Maker: Julius Grunow (fl. 1849 - 1890)
Maker: Carl Zeiss alliance with Bausch & Lomb (1892 - 1915)
Owner: Harold C. Ernst (1856 - 1922)
Collector: Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes
Cultural Region:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
microscope: 32 × 11 × 15 cm (12 5/8 × 4 5/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
case: 14.4 × 50 × 29.7 cm (5 11/16 × 19 11/16 × 11 11/16 in.)
Accessories: oculars (2): Leitz 4xB, Winkel Zeiss kl 2; objectives (4): Leitz 7, 1/7a oil immersion, Zeiss B, HI 90 iris, B&L 8mm, 1/5, Grunow 1/6; B&L double nosepiece; parabolic reflector for stage; Abbe condensor with iris-cylinder diaphragm; articulated substage mirror; frame for cup diaphragms; cup diaphragms (2); Zeiss-B&L polarizing analyzer A6; Zeiss-B&L vertical illuminator; flat case; key.
DescriptionThis is a Zeiss laboratory compound microscope with stand I. It has a heavy brass stage and horse-shoe shaped base. The body tube contains an extension eyepiece tube with a millimeter scale. The coarse adjustment is by rack and pinion on a curved arm attached to a round post. The fine adjustment is by a micrometer screw with a divided head on top of the post.
The stage is missing stage clips.
Located below the stage is an Abbe condensor and a swing out mount with an iris-cylinder diaphragm. This diaphragm can be adjusted out of center by means of rack and pinion. Below this is a plane-concave double mirror.
The case holds a spare articulated double mirror and a frame for cup diaphragms. Two cup diaphragms are present.
The Zeiss microscope is largely brass. The revolving nosepiece for two objectives is made of nickel by Bausch & Lomb.
The case hold two oculars, one by Winkel-Zeiss (K1. 2) and the other by Ernst Leitz (4XB).
The objectives are as follows:
by Carl Zeiss, Jena: B [with tag stating it came from CHSI inv. 1059] and 1.25 0.8 HI 90 (with iris). The B objective is early twentieth century and has a matching brass canister. The 90 objective is more modern and has a black plastic canister that is also marked "m. Iris."
by Ernst Leitz: 7 and 1/7a Oel Immersion; the latter is held in an unmatched canister marked, "OEL IMMERSION / 1/12 / Tubusl. 160mm."
by Bausch & Lomb: series II 1/5 0.82 N.A., for tube length 8.5 inches, in matching brass canister; and 8mm 0.50 N.A., in later brass canister painted black.
The other accessories in the case include a parabolic reflector on a ball-and-socket joint attached to a rod that screws into the top of an objective. This would be used on the stage to bounce light onto the specimen. This instrument is unsigned but has knurling similar to that found on Zeiss objectives. It is currently attached to a threaded collar of red brass, which in turn is attached to a brass and nickel objective signed by J. Grunow, New York.
There is a polarizing analyzer and a vertical illuminator by Carl Zeiss in collaboration with Bausch & Lomb. The analyzer is marked "Analysator A6."
The instrument has an original fitted Zeiss flat case with lock and key, and a nickel-plated brass handle. One of the latch hooks is detached and currently stored in the case. The outside of the case has a brass plaque engraved with the owner's name.
The stage is missing stage clips.
Located below the stage is an Abbe condensor and a swing out mount with an iris-cylinder diaphragm. This diaphragm can be adjusted out of center by means of rack and pinion. Below this is a plane-concave double mirror.
The case holds a spare articulated double mirror and a frame for cup diaphragms. Two cup diaphragms are present.
The Zeiss microscope is largely brass. The revolving nosepiece for two objectives is made of nickel by Bausch & Lomb.
The case hold two oculars, one by Winkel-Zeiss (K1. 2) and the other by Ernst Leitz (4XB).
The objectives are as follows:
by Carl Zeiss, Jena: B [with tag stating it came from CHSI inv. 1059] and 1.25 0.8 HI 90 (with iris). The B objective is early twentieth century and has a matching brass canister. The 90 objective is more modern and has a black plastic canister that is also marked "m. Iris."
by Ernst Leitz: 7 and 1/7a Oel Immersion; the latter is held in an unmatched canister marked, "OEL IMMERSION / 1/12 / Tubusl. 160mm."
by Bausch & Lomb: series II 1/5 0.82 N.A., for tube length 8.5 inches, in matching brass canister; and 8mm 0.50 N.A., in later brass canister painted black.
The other accessories in the case include a parabolic reflector on a ball-and-socket joint attached to a rod that screws into the top of an objective. This would be used on the stage to bounce light onto the specimen. This instrument is unsigned but has knurling similar to that found on Zeiss objectives. It is currently attached to a threaded collar of red brass, which in turn is attached to a brass and nickel objective signed by J. Grunow, New York.
There is a polarizing analyzer and a vertical illuminator by Carl Zeiss in collaboration with Bausch & Lomb. The analyzer is marked "Analysator A6."
The instrument has an original fitted Zeiss flat case with lock and key, and a nickel-plated brass handle. One of the latch hooks is detached and currently stored in the case. The outside of the case has a brass plaque engraved with the owner's name.
Signedengraved in cursive on tube: Carl Zeiss, / Jena.
on canister B: C.ZEISS / JENA
on objective B: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat trademark]
on canister 90 1.25 m. Iris: GERMANY
on objective 1.25 0.8 HI 90: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat trademark]
on objective 1.25 0.8 HI 90: GERMANY
marked twice on polarizing analyzer A6: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat trademark]
on analyzer A6: Germany
in series on vertical illuminator: Germany [achromat trademark with CARL ZEISS / JENA] B. & L. O. C.
engraved on the nosepiece: BAUSCH & LOMB OPT. CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y.
on canister 1/5: BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y. / NEW YORK CITY
on objective series II 1/5 0.82 N.A., with corporate name in gothic lettering; Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N.Y & NEW YORK CITY
on objective 8mm 0.50 N.A. with corporate name in gothic lettering; Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N.Y
on 8mm canister: B. & L. O. CO.
on objective 7 and its canister: E. Leitz / Wetzlar
on 7 canister 7: E. Leitz / Wetzlar
on oil immersion objective 1/7a: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
on canister for 1/12 oil immersion objective: E. Leitz
on ocular 4XB: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
on objective 1/6: J. GRUNOW N.Y.
on ocular K1. 2: WINKEL-ZEISS / GÖTTINGEN [in achromat trademark]
on canister B: C.ZEISS / JENA
on objective B: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat trademark]
on canister 90 1.25 m. Iris: GERMANY
on objective 1.25 0.8 HI 90: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat trademark]
on objective 1.25 0.8 HI 90: GERMANY
marked twice on polarizing analyzer A6: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat trademark]
on analyzer A6: Germany
in series on vertical illuminator: Germany [achromat trademark with CARL ZEISS / JENA] B. & L. O. C.
engraved on the nosepiece: BAUSCH & LOMB OPT. CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y.
on canister 1/5: BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y. / NEW YORK CITY
on objective series II 1/5 0.82 N.A., with corporate name in gothic lettering; Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N.Y & NEW YORK CITY
on objective 8mm 0.50 N.A. with corporate name in gothic lettering; Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N.Y
on 8mm canister: B. & L. O. CO.
on objective 7 and its canister: E. Leitz / Wetzlar
on 7 canister 7: E. Leitz / Wetzlar
on oil immersion objective 1/7a: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
on canister for 1/12 oil immersion objective: E. Leitz
on ocular 4XB: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
on objective 1/6: J. GRUNOW N.Y.
on ocular K1. 2: WINKEL-ZEISS / GÖTTINGEN [in achromat trademark]
Inscribedengraved on brass plate on case: HAROLD C. ERNST M.D./ Department of Bacteriology / Harvard Medical School
engraved in cursive on tube: No. 9051
stamped on case: 9051
twice scratched on B & L canister for objective 1/5: Lamb
engraved in cursive on tube: No. 9051
stamped on case: 9051
twice scratched on B & L canister for objective 1/5: Lamb
Historical AttributesThis Zeiss microscope was used by Harold C. Ernst, M.D., Department of Bacteriology, Harvard Medical School. It is identical to CHSI inv. 1126, which was also owned by Dr. Ernst. At some point this instrument was dropped and thereafter cannibalized for parts. Dr. Ernst evidently had grown to like the larger coarse focus knobs on this instrument, and he moved them to 1126 after the accident. (During restoration work in 1979, Ebenzer Gay returned the knobs back to 1044.)
Objectives and eyepieces now with the microscope were supplied from the "parts drawer." This explains the large group of different makers, which include Bausch & Lomb, the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte and the later Carl Zeiss Jena corporate entities, as well as optics licensed by Zeiss for production and sale by Bausch & Lomb. Other makers include Rudolf Winkel trading as Winkel-Zeiss, Julius Grunow, and Ernst Leitz. Some of the optics came from the Geology Department and sources other than the Medical School.
Objectives and eyepieces now with the microscope were supplied from the "parts drawer." This explains the large group of different makers, which include Bausch & Lomb, the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte and the later Carl Zeiss Jena corporate entities, as well as optics licensed by Zeiss for production and sale by Bausch & Lomb. Other makers include Rudolf Winkel trading as Winkel-Zeiss, Julius Grunow, and Ernst Leitz. Some of the optics came from the Geology Department and sources other than the Medical School.
Curatorial RemarksOriginal list does not match set of parts in case. Post for holder of cylinder diaphrams is 8 mm square. This is in contrast to 7.5 mm on inventory numbers 1123a,b,c, 1126a,b,c,d, 6643, indicating a design change some time before 1897.
File contains original documents chronicling the sale and shipping of a Zeiss microscope from March to May of 1897.
File contains original documents chronicling the sale and shipping of a Zeiss microscope from March to May of 1897.
ProvenanceHarold C. Ernst, Department of Bacteriology, Harvard Medical School; Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes, Harvard Medical School.