Hartnack and Prazmowski Continental Microscope (No. 333)

This is a Continental style microscope made by Hartnack and Prazmowski c1880. Adam Prazmowski (1821-1885) worked with Georg Johann Oberhauser (1798-1868) and Friedrich Edmund Hartnack (1826-1891) in Oberhauser’s Paris shop from c1870-1883. Oberhauser started his business c1830. In 1854 Hartnack joined the firm, and Oberhauser retired shortly thereafter. Soon after, Hartnack moved to Potsdam and continued making instruments under the name of Hartnack and Company. Prazmowski joined Hartnack’s firm sometime later, after which it became Hartnack and Prazmowski. In 1879 Prazmowski became the sole owner of the firm until he sold it in 1883 to his employees Bezu and Hausser. For a thorough description of the Oberhauser, Hartnack and Prazmowski lineage see this page by Stevenson.
This microscope is a medium-size microscope with a heavy horseshoe base. From the base extends two rectangular pillars, between which is placed the sliding mirror assembly. Above that is the condenser assembly attached via a dovetail mount to the square, black steel stage. The microscope body and stage are mounted above a compass joint allowing the entire microscope to be tilted to full horizontal. The microscope body and stage can be rotated up to 60 degrees. There are four eyepieces, numbered 1,2, 3 (hand drawn) and 3 (hand drawn). There is only one low-magnification objective consisting of three separate, ganged lenses. It is unnumbered. The microscope and eyepieces can be stored in a mahogany case. The microscope is engraved on the body tube Hartnack and Prazmowski.
Featured 06/2025