This brass microscope exhibits a design typical of compound microscopes of the late 19th Century. It is supported by a japanned cast iron horseshoe base and a brass pillar. At the top of the pillar is a compass joint connecting the supporting brass arm. The two-sided mirror (flat and concave) is supported on a gimbal and a swinging arm. The microscope body consists of two tubes: an inner draw-tube (graduated 140–210) and a brass outer body tube. At the base of the outer tube is a three-objective nosepiece. The nosepiece is offset from the axis of the bodytube. The specimen stage is circular with an integrated iris (damaged).

There are three objectives with this instrument: Two are made by Betz and the third is a C. Zeiss lens. The eyepiece is of the Huygenian type and is a 1" lens. Coarse focus is via spiral rack and pinion. Fine focus is unusual in that the focus control is located under the support arm, as opposed to the more typical top position. The optics of this instrument are quite good; with the Zeiss lens showing better chromatic correction than the (nearly identical magnification) Betz 1/6 in. lens. There are no accessories with this instrument, except for the mahogany carrying case.

This instrument was manufactured by the Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co. in the early years of the 20th Century. It is based upon designs developed for, and marketed by, E.H. & F.H. Tighe of Detroit Michigan from the late 1890's until no later than 1905, when the Tighes went out of the microscope business. Marketing of the Tighe-like instruments was carried on by GMOC after 1905 and continued for a few years thereafter. An instrument of this configuration was offered in the Sears, Roebuck catalogue of 1902.**

This microscope is identical to an instrument* in the Billings Collection dated c. 1890.

*AFIP 517748-60-4713-318; The Billings Microscope Collection, 2nd Ed. p94.

**Thanks to Stuart L. Warter, Ph.D. Professor of Biology (Emeritus), California State University, Long Beach and Vice-President, Microscopical Society of Southern California

Featured 05/2006