Lindsay's "snuff-box" simple microscope
Date1742
Inventory Number1019
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
George Lindsay
fl. 1724 - 1776
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions20 x 13 x 10 cm (7 7/8 x 5 1/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
case: 3.5 x 6 x 8 cm (1 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 3 1/8 in.)
case: 3.5 x 6 x 8 cm (1 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 3 1/8 in.)
Material
AccessoriesHand magnifier; 5 slides with preparations; tweezers; stage forceps; # 1 lens with Lieberkühn; 2-7 lenses in slides; Lieberkühn; ivory talc box; fishskin case; original pamphlet.
DescriptionThe Lindsay microscope has a folding tripod base and turned pedestal. The instrument is of brass with a silver signature plate and lens indicator. The objectives are mounted in two interchangeable sliders which fit in a groove in the top of the front plate. One silver lieberkuhn goes with objective lens number 1, and the second lieberkuhn is for use with the slides holding the objectives. The mirror is fixed to the stand. Focus is by a lever and sliding mechanism.
Signedengraved on silver plate: Geo. Lindsay Inv. & Fec.
Inscribedstamped on inner edge of box lid: 27
stamped on back of eyepiece plate: 27
date stamped on underside of track: 1742
FunctionThis is a portable, pocket-sized microsope.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Alain Brieux, Paris, November 11, 1963 (lot 13/4). Donated to CHSI February 1, 1964.
Historical AttributesGeorge Lindsay, a London watchmaker, invented his portable microscope in 1728 and began making it. In a pamphlet published on the instrument in 1742/3 (in the file), he says that his goals were to bring the magnifiers closer to the eye, to obtain a larger field of view, to make both lenses and objects easy to change without the trouble of unscrewing them, and to have a convenient, portable instrument for use in a field or garden.
It was the first microscope to be patented. Royal Letters Patent number 588 was granted to Lindsay for a portable microscope on February 17, 1743.
Benjamin Wood
Date: 1820
Accessories: 10 objectives, numbered 1-10 (caps on 1 and 2); 4 objectives with lieberkuhns (one lens missing); 2 oculars; 3 simple lenses in eye cups; diaphragm cone; live box; spring stage; three-wing stage; double-convex lens on rod; simple-lens carrier on an arm; ivory black/white disk; 1 ivory disk with cork; 3 flat glass disks of differing sizes; 1 large glass disk in threaded brass rim; 1 watch glass; 3 large glass, magnifying lenses, one tinted green; 2 small magnifying glasses; stage condensor; fish plate; 2 stage forceps; 1 stage 3-pronged gripper; tweezers; 3 ivory handled knives for preparations; 10 small and 3 medium ivory slides of transparent specimens; 3 ivory slides of opaque specimens; 3 boxwood slides of transparent specimens; 1 brass wet-cell slide with 4 apertures for preparations; 2 cylindrical ivory boxes with mica cover slips and snap rings; wrench; chamois; flat case with sockets for the above; key.
Object number: 1002
Harmanus van Deyl
Date: 1807
Accessories: 2 objectives; 2 eye lenses for a fixed field lens; 1 Lieberkühn; frogplate; bull's eye; stage forceps; spring stage; live box; hand lens; 2 tweezers; 2 boxes with 59 specimen slides; glass disk; black disk; "fish" tube with wire; ivory box of mica cover slips; 5 glass slides; 3 lenses; 2 keys.
Object number: 2002-1-0075a
Robert Bancks
Date: 1805-1811
Accessories: 6 objectives 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8; two high power/ short focal length lenses in round brass boxes: A, B; 2 lenses in black rings in cylindrical boxes for aquatic use: 30, 40; 3 Lieberkühns with lenses; cone diaphragm; polarizer set; brass live box; 2 stage forceps; frog plate; 2 oculars; tweezers; brush; brass wet cell preparation slide; 10 ivory slides; ivory box with slide covers and rings; spring stage mount; watch glass and bracket; bull's eye on stand; case.
Object number: 1185
Edmund Culpeper
Date: circa 1730
Accessories: 6 objectives for screw-barrel microscope; 3 objectives for compound body; 1 lieberkuhn; 1 opaque attachment; brass box; 2 ivory slides, 1 brass wet-cell slide; tweezer; ivory handle; glass specimen fish tube; storage box; instruction booklet by Culpeper (stored in instrument file).
Object number: 1173
Edward Marmaduke Clarke
Date: 1838-1840
Accessories: 5 objectives for simple microscope; 2 objectives for compound microscope (1 in can; 1 with lieberkuhn); cup diaphragm with lieberkuhn in brass box; brass box of cover slips; stage forceps; tweezers; 2 live boxes; frog plate; bull's eye; fish tube wire; wrench; chamois; 2 unmounted lenses; 40 prepared slides; standing case; 2 keys.
Object number: 1018
Robert Brettell Bate
Date: 1800-1825
Accessories: 2 objective lenses with lieberkuhns; 4 objectives; 3 ivory slides; stage forceps; brass tweezers; mica cover slips and wire retaining rings in ivory box; drop-in spring stage to hold slides; case.
Object number: 1013
W. & S. Jones
Date: circa 1795
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.
Object number: 1041
Gilkerson & McAll
Date: 1826-1830
Accessories: wheel with 6 objectives; substage condensing lens; substage mirror; Lieberkühn for objectives; Lieberkühn carrier; magnifier lens with Lieberkühn; tilting magnifier lens; tweezers; stage forceps; watch glass; ivory disk; 10 slides (ivory, wood, ebonite); mahogany case.
Object number: 1009
Peter & John Dollond
Date: circa 1768
Accessories: Aquatic and Wilson attachments; 2 lenses to fit either ; 2 silverplated Lieberkuhns with lenses ; stage forceps ; tweezers ; 3 bone slides ; 1 brass framed glass slide for Wilson
Object number: 1007
Hugh Powell
Date: 1841
Accessories: oculars (2); objectives (3): 1/2, 1/8, 1/4 with attachable Lieberkühn; stage slide holder; stage fish plate holder; X-Y mechanical stage; fish plate; prepared slides (2); plain glass slides (2) and cover slips (2); box of cover slips; sponge; cotton bag; folding scalpel; fish plate; mount for stage forceps; fishhook; assorted hardware; case
Object number: 1164
Andrew Pritchard
Date: 1835-1840
Accessories: objectives (4); oculars (6); lieberkühns (4); stage forceps; bull's eye condenser on stand; spring stage; extra mechanical stage; polarizer; cup diaphragms and holders; substage fork mount; live box; glass troughs (2); concave glass; fish tube holder; case; 2 keys. See also slide micrometers (2) (1088b,c)
Object number: 1088a
William Cary
Date: circa 1820
Accessories: objectives (4): 1 to 4; attached ocular; objective with Lieberkühn; 4 ivory slides; 2 stage forceps; scalpel, dissecting needle, brush; 3 glass slides; mirror; bull's eye condenser; insect box; black/white disc; round brass stage with glass window ; flat wooden case; booklet.
Object number: 1162