Beck pathological compound microscope
Datecirca 1878
Inventory Number1362
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
R. & J. Beck
1865 - 1920
Supplier
W. H. Walmsley & Company
1884 - 1889
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensionsmicroscope: 33 × 13.7 × 18 cm (13 × 5 3/8 × 7 1/16 in.)
case: 37 × 21.3 × 15.9 cm (14 9/16 × 8 3/8 × 6 1/4 in.)
case: 37 × 21.3 × 15.9 cm (14 9/16 × 8 3/8 × 6 1/4 in.)
Material
Accessoriesoculars (3); eye mask; Beck objectives with cans (2): 1, 1/6 in.; anonymous onjective: 1/15 in homog. im..; tweezers; triple nosepiece; Rousselet-type sliding stage; Abbe condenser; iris diaphgragm; cover slips (2); prescription envelope; instructions; lock parts; standing case with key.
DescriptionThis is a Beck pathological compound microscope. The brass instrument sits on a flat tripod-shaped base. The upright pillar is a turned pedestal hinged below the stage. The rear of the stage supports the cylindrical post, which has a bracket attached by rack and pinion to the body tube. There is an ocular draw tube, and a nickel-plated revolving triple nosepiece. The coarse focus is by rack and pinion. The fine focus consists of a spring-loaded lever located under the post, which is operated by a vertical screw on the rear extension of the stage.
The circular stage is covered by a rectangular glass plate with a circular aperture. The sides of the glass are beveled in order to dovetail with a brass Rousselet-type stage. This has a ledge for slides and a pierced square in the rear. Mounted to the post, an arm carries a screw with an ivory tip, which sets down into the open square. Substage equipment includes an Abbe condenser and iris diaphragm mounted in a centering ring attached by rack and pinion to a descending bar. Further down the racked bar, more rack and pinion carries a fork-mounted plano-concave mirror.
This instrument is accompanied by a standing wooden case of mahogany with a brass handle on top. Accessories include 2 Beck objectives with matching canisters: a 1/6 inch and a 1 inch. There is a third objective by an unknown maker: 1/15 inch homogenous immersion. There are 3 eyepieces, one of which is too large for this microscope, but has a spot designed for it in the case's pullout tray. Mating with the eyepieces by means of an adaptor is a mask for the right eye. This is of blackened brass. Also in the tray is a brass tweezers, a steel key for the case, 2 glass cover slips; and a sealed paper envelope with the "Strike Plate + screws / for lock."
There is also a remnant of a prescription envelope. Pasted to the interior of the door are "Rules for the Use of the Microscope," by Dr. J. W. Behrens, translated from the German. It appears to be a newspaper clipping, and is fragmented.
The circular stage is covered by a rectangular glass plate with a circular aperture. The sides of the glass are beveled in order to dovetail with a brass Rousselet-type stage. This has a ledge for slides and a pierced square in the rear. Mounted to the post, an arm carries a screw with an ivory tip, which sets down into the open square. Substage equipment includes an Abbe condenser and iris diaphragm mounted in a centering ring attached by rack and pinion to a descending bar. Further down the racked bar, more rack and pinion carries a fork-mounted plano-concave mirror.
This instrument is accompanied by a standing wooden case of mahogany with a brass handle on top. Accessories include 2 Beck objectives with matching canisters: a 1/6 inch and a 1 inch. There is a third objective by an unknown maker: 1/15 inch homogenous immersion. There are 3 eyepieces, one of which is too large for this microscope, but has a spot designed for it in the case's pullout tray. Mating with the eyepieces by means of an adaptor is a mask for the right eye. This is of blackened brass. Also in the tray is a brass tweezers, a steel key for the case, 2 glass cover slips; and a sealed paper envelope with the "Strike Plate + screws / for lock."
There is also a remnant of a prescription envelope. Pasted to the interior of the door are "Rules for the Use of the Microscope," by Dr. J. W. Behrens, translated from the German. It appears to be a newspaper clipping, and is fragmented.
Signedon heel: R & J. BECK / LONDON
on foot: W. H. WALMSLEY & Co. / PHILADELPHIA / SOLE AMERICAN AGENTS
on objective canisters and 1/6 inch objective: R & J. BECK
on 1 inch objective: R & J / BECK
Inscribedon foot: 12589
Curatorial RemarksTag with object reads: Note: This microscope belonged to Dr. Wm. A. Haman of North 8th St., Reading, Penna. Some other lenses, etc. for this one in another box (Time) marked to indicate that they go with this instrument. Roderick Heffron, M.D. 10/13/69"
ProvenanceDr. William A. Haman, Reading, PA, c. 1878; Dr. Roderick Heffron, Falmouth, MA, October 13, 1969; gift to Countway Library of Medicine, Boston; transfer to CHSI, 1985.
Historical AttributesThis microscope belonged to the homeopathic physician, Dr. William A. Haman, of Reading, Pennsylvania and staff member of the Homœopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital there.
Smith & Beck
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: Achromatic condensor; a darkfield condenser (Wenham's parabolic reflector); a substage set of aperture stops on a swingaway vane inside a sleeve; a nickel tweezers; a stage forceps; and a bull's eye condenser with a stand, a glass tray for the stage, Varley live box; case.
Object number: 1059
R. & J. Beck
Date: 1876
Accessories: oculars (2) in microscope; Darker's selenite retarding filters (3); wheel diaphragm; mechanical rotary stage; stage slider. Other accessories are in the case (1122b), including monocular draw tube; oculars (3); objectives in cans (5); empty can; Lieberkühn; polarizing set; slides; camera lucidas (2); etc.; plus a Beck patent substage condenser (1122c); and apertometer (1122d).
Object number: 1122a
English
Date: 1850-1875
Accessories: 2 objectives with canisters: 1/4, 1 inch; 14 prepared slides; 6 glass slides; 1 micrometer slide (100th, 1000th inch rulings); tweezers; case with parts drawer
Object number: 1102
E. Hartnack & A. Prazmowski
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: objectives in green leather box (5): 2, 4, 6, 7, and unmarked; objectives in brown box (2): 2, 3; oculars (5); 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; polarizing eyepiece and substage apparatus; substage condenser; substage cup diaphragms (4); slider with sleeve to hold substage accessories; large bull's eye condenser with stand; aperture-stop rotating wheel; blue filters (3); flat case; case keys (2).
Object number: 1145a
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
Newton & Company
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: objective with canister: 1 inch; ocular; frog / fish plate; live box; mechanical stage; standing case
Object number: 1246
Edward Bryan
Date: 1866-1879
Accessories: objectives in canisters (3): 1/4, 1, 2 inch; ocular; live box; box of cover slips; prepared slides (5 small, 12 large); ivory slide; 5 powdered specimens in blue paper; bull's eye condenser; stage forceps; standing case with parts drawer.
Object number: 1085
Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena
Date: circa 1902
Accessories: oculars (5); objectives (5); microplanar objectives (2); iris diaphragm; abbe condenser; collars and sleeves for photography; parts box; Leitz object micrometer (1308b); cardioid condenser (1308d); immersion oil bottle (1308c) ; Leitz erecting prism (1308e); standing case with key
Object number: 1308a
Boston Optical Works
Date: 1860-1890
Accessories: Three dated Tolles objectives: 1/2" Nov. 18, 1860, 1/4" Dec. 23, 1877, 1/5" Oct. 28, 1868; 1 high power solid eyepiece, 1 low power normal eyepiece; polarizer; substage mirror; mechanical stage, standing case.
Object number: 1066
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
Newton & Company
Date: circa 1868
Accessories: objectives in canisters (2); oculars (2); stage forceps; substage diaphragm wheel; live box; mechanical stage; spatula; case and key.
Object number: 1335
R. & J. Beck
Date: circa 1879
Accessories: objective 2 in. Ross No. 20372 in original case; empty case for 1.5 in. objective R&J Beck; ocular
Object number: 1140