Simple Brass Microscope (# 122)
Made:  1690-1700
Made by: unknown
Made in: Possibly Holland
UC undergraduate, Carolyn Thamkul, demonstrates the use of this microscope.
Side view showing focusing mechanism
This simple brass microscope is perhaps the oldest in the Golub Collection. Objects to be viewed are held in one of six circular holes in a circular brass plate. This plate revolves to bring each object in view behind the small hole in center. Light can be controlled by a second circular plate containing 5 holes of varying sizes. Focus is accomplished by two screws which set the distance between the lens and the object. It is missing a lens holder which would normally slide in the dovetails across the center opening. The instrument fits into a shaped leather case with gold tooling on the outside.

Originally thought to be of Dutch origin, this microscope may not be according to Girard l’e. Turner (Oxford Museum of Science), and as suggested by a footnote in the catalog of the Nachet collection (it was "microscope #5" of the Nachet collection in Paris). Whatever its origin, it is probable that the designer of this instrument patterned it after a microscope designed by Christian Huygens in the mid 1600s.
Featured 12/04

Tue, May 30, 2006