Newton & Co. large compound microscope
Datecirca 1860
Inventory Number1246
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Newton & Company
fl. 1861 - 1913
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 46 × 16.2 × 18.9 cm (18 1/8 × 6 3/8 × 7 7/16 in.)
case: 52 × 24.7 × 18.6 cm (20 1/2 × 9 3/4 × 7 5/16 in.)
case: 52 × 24.7 × 18.6 cm (20 1/2 × 9 3/4 × 7 5/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriesobjective with canister: 1 inch; ocular; frog / fish plate; live box; mechanical stage; standing case
DescriptionThis is a Newton & Co. large compound microscope. The instrument is constructed entirely of brass. The cast brass base is "V" shaped and has two flat upright pillars, and a back stop for the swinging post holding the mirror. Above the inclining joint there is a brass box that houses rack work that raises a a square post carrying a horizontal arm. The body tube is screwed into a socket at the end of the arm. The brass body tube has an ocular draw tube. Coarse focus is by means of rack and pinion. Fine focus is by means of a screw mounted on the rear of the body tube; it adjusts a lever attached to the objective.
There is a square mechanical stage with x-y motion by means of knobs and rotary motion by turning the top platform. The stage is attached to the lower end of the box mentioned as being above the inclining joint. Below the inclining joint there is a cylindrical post to carry the substage mirror. The plano-concave mirror slides up and down on the post by means of a sleeve.
This microscope is accompanied by a standing mahogany case for storage. There is a pull-out tray on which the microscope stands. Parts are cushioned with blue velvet. There is one ocular and one objective (1-inch) with canister.
Accessories include a fish or frog plate of oblong brass with an inset disk of glass on one end. The edge of that end is pierced for the ribbons to tie down the specimen. The other end has a raised knob. There is also a large live box.
Accompanying the microscope is a box of odds and ends, consisting of hardware that does not seem to belong with this microscope, but was sold with it.
There is a square mechanical stage with x-y motion by means of knobs and rotary motion by turning the top platform. The stage is attached to the lower end of the box mentioned as being above the inclining joint. Below the inclining joint there is a cylindrical post to carry the substage mirror. The plano-concave mirror slides up and down on the post by means of a sleeve.
This microscope is accompanied by a standing mahogany case for storage. There is a pull-out tray on which the microscope stands. Parts are cushioned with blue velvet. There is one ocular and one objective (1-inch) with canister.
Accessories include a fish or frog plate of oblong brass with an inset disk of glass on one end. The edge of that end is pierced for the ribbons to tie down the specimen. The other end has a raised knob. There is also a large live box.
Accompanying the microscope is a box of odds and ends, consisting of hardware that does not seem to belong with this microscope, but was sold with it.
Signedengraved on heel: NEWTON & CO. / 3 Fleet Street / Temple Bar. / LONDON
printed on trade card in rear of case: NEWTON & CO. / Opticians, Mathematical, Philosophical & Astronomical / INSTRUMENT MAKERS, / GLOBE MANUFACTURERS, / to Her Majesty, / 3, FLEET STREET. LONDON. NEAR TEMPLE BAR.
Curatorial RemarksThis microscope is similar to 1152 and 1335.
ProvenanceDavid P. Wheatland purchased from Sotheby's, London, March 13, 1967 (lot 17), via E. P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd. Donated to CHSI April 17, 1967.
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
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
Date: 1860-1870
Accessories: eyepiece; convertible objective consisting of 3 objectives nested as one
Object number: 2002-1-0058
Cary (firm history)
Date: 1855-1860
Accessories: ocular; cylindrical adaptor or substage baffle; standing box
Object number: 1234
Robert Field & Son
Date: 1854-1860
Accessories: Two objectives in cans; 2 oculars; 1 unexplained optical tube with ocular and what may be a long working distance objective; live box; stage forceps; standing mahogany case.
Object number: 1248
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
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
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: circa 1919
Accessories: oculars (2): 3, 8x; accessory box; Leitz objectives (5); wrenches (2); ground glass; N.A. 1.45 condensor cap; Abbe condensor; rotary stage; case
Object number: 1345
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
F. Davidson & Company
Date: circa 1900
Accessories: 1 ocular: 2; 1 objective in can: 1/4 dividing; case
Object number: 1334
American
Date: circa 1865
Accessories: 1 Objective; 1 eyepiece; Sub-stage concave mirror
Object number: 2002-1-0048