Cary-type compound microscope
Datecirca 1820
Inventory Number1162
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
William Cary
c. 1759 - 1825
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 23 × 15.2 × 14.3 cm (9 1/16 × 6 × 5 5/8 in.)
case: 5.1 × 15.2 × 14.3 cm (2 × 6 × 5 5/8 in.)
box: 15.2 × 18.4 × 17.1 cm (6 × 7 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
case: 5.1 × 15.2 × 14.3 cm (2 × 6 × 5 5/8 in.)
box: 15.2 × 18.4 × 17.1 cm (6 × 7 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
Material
Accessoriesobjectives (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.
DescriptionBrass rectangular pillar screws in brass socket on the case lid. Focus is by use of rackwork on the pillar to move stage up and down. Brass stage has spring for slides and will take round live box or glass stage. There are holes to insert stage forceps or a bull's eye stage condenser. Substage concave mirror is present.
The optical tube is cylindrical at the ocular end and tapers at the objective end. The latter screws into the back of the objective, which in turn screws into a ring attached by a bar to the top of the pillar.
The microscope can be used as a simple microscope without the compound body.
Its mahogany wood box is fitted with a lift out tray and lined in dark teal velvet. It holds objectives (4): 1 to 4; ocular; objective with Lieberkühn; 4 ivory slides; 2 stage forceps with steel needles; a hair brush with a quill handle; a scalpel with an ivory handle; a dissecting needle of steel with an ivory handle; 3 glass slides; mirror; bull's eye condenser; insect box; a black/white disc; and round brass disc with a glass window for use as a stage.
An illustrated leaflet, "Description of a new and improved pocket compound microscope....Made and sold by W. Cary, No. 182 Strand, London" is beneath the case tray. The firm was at this address from 1794-1822.
The optical tube is cylindrical at the ocular end and tapers at the objective end. The latter screws into the back of the objective, which in turn screws into a ring attached by a bar to the top of the pillar.
The microscope can be used as a simple microscope without the compound body.
Its mahogany wood box is fitted with a lift out tray and lined in dark teal velvet. It holds objectives (4): 1 to 4; ocular; objective with Lieberkühn; 4 ivory slides; 2 stage forceps with steel needles; a hair brush with a quill handle; a scalpel with an ivory handle; a dissecting needle of steel with an ivory handle; 3 glass slides; mirror; bull's eye condenser; insect box; a black/white disc; and round brass disc with a glass window for use as a stage.
An illustrated leaflet, "Description of a new and improved pocket compound microscope....Made and sold by W. Cary, No. 182 Strand, London" is beneath the case tray. The firm was at this address from 1794-1822.
Signedon microscope rackwork: Cary, LONDON
leaflet: MADE AND SOLD / By W. CARY, / No. 182, STRAND, LONDON.
ProvenancePerhaps owned by Dr. John Randall (1774-1843) before transfer to his son, Dr. John Witt Randall (1813-1892); Dr. Edward Stanley Abbot; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 162), Harvard Medical School.
Historical AttributesGiven in 1929 by Dr. Edward Stanley Abbot (AB 1887, MD 1893) to the Ernst-Lewis Collection (formerly No. 162).
A note in the box states that the microscope belonged to Dr. John Witt Randall (1813-1892, AB 1834, MD 1839), and possibly also to his father, Dr. John Randall (1774-1843, AB 1802, MB 1806, MD 1811). Dr. John Randall was the grandson through his mother of Samuel Adams.
English
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: 4 objectives; 1 objective fixed to compound body tube; 1 ocular; live box with glass; ivory black / white disk; stage forceps; brush; 3 ivory slides; 1 glass slide; 1 dissecting needle; specimen list; box.
Object number: 1005
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
English
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: 4 objectives; 1 ocular; live box with glass; ivory black / white disk; stage forceps; dissecting needle; brass tweezers; watch glass; 3 ivory slides; glass slide; specimen list; box with key.
Object number: 1003
English
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: 2 objectives; 1 ocular; live box with glass; ivory black / white disk; stage forceps; dissecting needle; 3 ivory slides; 2 glass slides; specimen list; crystal specimen; mica cover slips; box.
Object number: 1004
Claude-Siméon Passemant
Date: 1749-1769
Accessories: ocular; objectives (7); bull's eye condenser; Lieberkühn for stage mounting; cone diaphragm; spring frame for slides; frog plate; stage forceps; large and small black and white disks (2); round micrometer slide with fine wire screen; low-power lens; black aperture disk; brass slider for 4 specimens; ivory slides--rectangular (6); ivory slides--circular (2); brass slide with aperture to hold circular ivory slides; boxes (2) of round ivory slides (40 in total).
Object number: 1182
Stephen Bithray
Date: 1826-1838
Accessories: objectives (3); prepared ivory slides (5); stage forceps; live box; substage mirror; stage bullseye; flat case.
Object number: 1330
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 1830
Accessories: Four objectives; high power simple magnifier; brass forceps; ivory handled dissecting needle; ivory handled knife; tortoise-shell enclosed knife; stage-mounted brass and blued steel forceps with steel pin at opposite end; articulated bull's eye condenser; live box to fit in stage; flat case.
Object number: 2002-1-0063
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
Alexander Mackenzie
Date: circa 1820
Accessories: 2 stage forceps; tweezers; live box; substage mirror; convertible objective of three lenses; 3 ivory slides; magnifier lens; cardboard box for covers; instruction sheet; flat case.
Object number: 1261
Charles-Louis Chevalier
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: 2 convertible objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 0,00,000; 2 oculars; simple magnifiers: 3 and 5, with support bracket; extension pillar; bull's eye stage condenser on jointed arm; forceps; 3 prepared slides; box of cover glasses; 1/100 mm stage micrometer; camera lucida; tall bell jar; padlock on chain; case with key; table of magnifications
Object number: 1079
William Cary
Date: circa 1827
Accessories: 3 objectives; live box; 2 ivory sliders; box
Object number: 1188