Davis monocular compound microscope
Datecirca 1860
Inventory Number1245
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
John Davis & Sons
founded 1833
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 38.5 × 12.3 × 18 cm (15 3/16 × 4 13/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
bullseye: 28.5 × 13.5 × 6.6 cm (11 1/4 × 5 5/16 × 2 5/8 in.)
case: 44.3 × 24.6 × 17.5 cm (17 7/16 × 9 11/16 × 6 7/8 in.)
bullseye: 28.5 × 13.5 × 6.6 cm (11 1/4 × 5 5/16 × 2 5/8 in.)
case: 44.3 × 24.6 × 17.5 cm (17 7/16 × 9 11/16 × 6 7/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriesobjectives (3); oculars (2); polarizing set; lieberkühn; live boxes (2); dissecting knife; prepared slides (2); case
DescriptionThis is a Davis monocular compound microscope. The instrument is constructed of brass and has a flat tripod base. Two flat pillars extend from the base, supporting the inclinable stand. The monocular body tube is held by an arm bracket with the fine adjustment screw on top. A chain driven mechanism comprises the coarse focus.
The microscope has a mechanical stage with chain driven movements. A rotating disc diaphragm is fitted beneath. There is also a mirror mounted on tube below
the stage.
This instrument is accompanied by a case.
The microscope has a mechanical stage with chain driven movements. A rotating disc diaphragm is fitted beneath. There is also a mirror mounted on tube below
the stage.
This instrument is accompanied by a case.
Signedon stage: DAVIS DERBY
Curatorial RemarksThis instrument has an interesting and quite unusual chain drive for focus and stage using a fusee size chain wrapped once around a knurled pinion shaft.
ProvenanceDavid P. Wheatland purchased from Sotheby's, London, March 13, 1967 (lot 21), via E. P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd. Donated to CHSI April 17, 1967.
Historical AttributesThis instrument was purchased from a Sotheby Auction on March 13, 1967.
E.G.R Taylor's <i>The Mathematical Practitioners of Hanoverian England,1714-1814</i> (Cambridge University Press, 1966) lists John O. Davis (c. 1930) from Derby (p. 447). Davis was an optical and mathematical instrument maker. He wrote a booklet entitled "A Companion to the Microscope," printed at Driffield, near Derby. He was probably the same individual who designed this microscope.
Bernard Davis
Date: circa 1869
Accessories: telescope / microscope eyepiece; microscope objective; solar telescope eyepiece; glass discs (4); horizontal case
Object number: 1254
Bernard Davis
Date: circa 1869
Accessories: telescope / microscope eyepiece; telescope field lens and solar eyepiece; case; instruction sheet.
Object number: 1232
James Swift & Son, Ltd.
Date: circa 1900
Accessories: oculars (2); objectives in canisters (3): 2/3, 1/6 0.83, 1/12 1.30: prepared slides (4), slide; box of cover glasses; case
Object number: 1329
Joseph Zentmayer
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: Zentmayer objective with cannister: 1 1/2; paired oculars (3); Bicknell's achromatic condenser; rotating wheel diaphragm; polarizing eyepiece, polarizer by objective; camera lucida; plane glass window and brass socket; monocular tube; parts box with key; standing case with key.
Object number: 1015
Negretti and Zambra
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: 3 objectives: 1/4, 1/2, 1" in cans; 2 oculars; polarizing set; bull's eye with stand; stage forceps; 31 prepared slides, 8 images (e.g., the Lord's Prayer); live box; standing case
Object number: 1113
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
Robert Field & Son
Date: circa 1845
Accessories: oculars (2); objectives (4); objectives in canisters (2); magnifiers (2); polarizer and analyzer; live box; substage mount (1) with stops (2); scalpel and needle; tweezers; slides (2); standing case
Object number: 1325
John B. Dancer
Date: circa 1845
Accessories: ocular; objective; standing case
Object number: 1376
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
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
Spencer Lens Company
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: objectives (6): Tolles 8/10 " dated 5/1/1863, 2 marked Spencer on can, 1 European shape "5", 2 other; oculars (2); polarizer set; box of general subjects slides; substage mirror; magnifier; case
Object number: 1159
Andrew Ross
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: objectives (5); condenser lens; eyepiece bracket (1) with eyepieces (4); polarizing lens; reducing ring; stage forceps; case
Object number: 1035a