Tolles type B, compound microscope
Datecirca 1870
Inventory Number1016
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Boston Optical Works
fl. 1867 - 1895
Maker
Robert B. Tolles
1823 - 1883
User
Jeffries Wyman
1814 - 1874
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 41 × 24.2 × 16.7 cm (16 1/8 × 9 1/2 × 6 9/16 in.)
case: 46.3 × 20.5 × 26 cm (18 1/4 × 8 1/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
case: 46.3 × 20.5 × 26 cm (18 1/4 × 8 1/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionInventory no. 1016 is a large, brass Tolles microscope, with stand B design, its case, and numerous accessories. It has been divided into the following:
1016a: Tolles type B microscope
1016b: Tolles objectives, oculars, and case
1016c: Tolles side illumination prism
1016d: Tolles opaque specimen objective
1016e: Tolles side illumination objective
1016f: Tolles polarizing objective
See the separate inventory records for more details.
1016a: Tolles type B microscope
1016b: Tolles objectives, oculars, and case
1016c: Tolles side illumination prism
1016d: Tolles opaque specimen objective
1016e: Tolles side illumination objective
1016f: Tolles polarizing objective
See the separate inventory records for more details.
In Collection(s)
Curatorial RemarksThree specialized objectives in this microscope kit have stickers from Mr. Wheatland labeling them 1016d, 1016e, and 1016f. They have received separate entries because of their unusual nature.
No other parts of the kit were labeled 1016a, b, or c. Presumably 1016a was the microscope; 1016b might have been the fitted case and its parts' boxes filled with objectives and oculars; and 1016c could have been the side illumination prism (whose underside is scratched "1016 / e", a number re-used by Wheatland for an objective).
We have used this presumption in assigning the inventory numbers.
ProvenanceOwned and used by Professor Jeffries Wyman, Professor of Anatomy and Curator of the Peabody Museum at Harvard University. Given by Mary M. Wyman, daughter of Dr. Jeffries Wyman, to Professor Alpheous Hyatt for the Boston Society of Natural History in October 1899. Presented by Prof. Alpheous Hyatt, Oct. 6, 1900, to Dr. Ernst. Part of Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 16), Harvard Medical School, 1900.
Historical AttributesNote from Dr. Lewis: "Presented by Prof. Alpheus Hyatt, Oct. 6, 1900. Belonged originally to Professor Jeffries Wyman. The Boston Optical Works became solely owned by Tolles sometime between 1867 and 1871. This microscope appears to be from this period."
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 3 Tolles objectives: 1 with 3 fronts; empty can 8/10; 5 Tolles oculars 34 mm dia.: 2 all solid, 2 solid field l. & single eye lens, 1 std.; blue filter; case; key. Also see 1016a: microscope with centerable condenser with diaphragm wheel; and mechanical stage. 1016c: side illumination prism. 1016d, e, f: specialized Tolles objectives.
Object number: 1016b
Boston Optical Works
Date: 1879
Object number: 1016d
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Object number: 1016c
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 3 Tolles objectives: 1 with 3 fronts; empty can 8/10; 5 Tolles oculars 34 mm dia.: 2 all solid, 2 solid field l. & single eye lens, 1 std.; centerable condenser with diaphragm wheel; mech. stage; side illuminator prism; cabinet.
Object number: 1016a
Robert B. Tolles
Date: 1860-1874
Object number: 1045a-v
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
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 1 Tolles objective with cap : 1/4" 40 deg. , dated 5/12/1868; 2 oculars 24.5 mm dia. ; simple stage with clips; diaphragm wheel; no condensor; substage mirror; objective cap; standing walnut case.
Object number: 1286
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: 5 objectives; 2 (non-solid) oculars 30 mm dia.; polarizer to fit eyepiece tube ; substage polarizer; stage ring insert with 2 clamps; cardboard box with two slides; 3 flat plates of ceramic/porcelain, approx. 7 x16 x0.2; 9 x14.5 x0.2; 9 x13x 0.2; case
Object number: 1017
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: 1 ocular; 1 objective 16mm 0.25 10x B&L
Object number: 1338
