Beck student compound microscope
Datecirca 1879
Inventory Number1140
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
R. & J. Beck
1865 - 1920
Collector
Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensionsmicroscope: 25 × 8 × 12.7 cm (9 13/16 × 3 1/8 × 5 in.)
case: 12.4 × 28.5 × 17.1 cm (4 7/8 × 11 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
case: 12.4 × 28.5 × 17.1 cm (4 7/8 × 11 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
Material
Accessoriesobjective 2 in. Ross No. 20372 in original case; empty case for 1.5 in. objective R&J Beck; ocular
Bibliography
DescriptionThis is a Beck student compound microscope. It has a thick horse-shoe shaped brass base filled with lead. It supports a bright brass turned pillar with a hinged joint that allows the body to be inclined. The post and bracket and body tube are enameled black. The body is equipped with a ocular draw tube and a single nosepiece. Coarse focus is by the standard rack and pinion. Fine focus is by a screw on top of the post.
There is a rectangular brass stage with a single stage clip (the other is missing). A bull's eye condenser is attached to a corner of the stage by means of an articulated arm. Substage apparatus inculdes a rotating wheel diaphragm with a socket for a condenser (although none is present); and a plano-concave mirror on a swinging arm.
There are two eyepieces, a Ross 2-inch objective in its original canister, and an empty R. & J. Beck 1 1/2 -inch objective canister. The other is by Ross: 2 inches.
The fitted wooden case is coverd in brown-painted cloth on the exterior and lined with white paper on the interior.
There is a rectangular brass stage with a single stage clip (the other is missing). A bull's eye condenser is attached to a corner of the stage by means of an articulated arm. Substage apparatus inculdes a rotating wheel diaphragm with a socket for a condenser (although none is present); and a plano-concave mirror on a swinging arm.
There are two eyepieces, a Ross 2-inch objective in its original canister, and an empty R. & J. Beck 1 1/2 -inch objective canister. The other is by Ross: 2 inches.
The fitted wooden case is coverd in brown-painted cloth on the exterior and lined with white paper on the interior.
Signedon heel of foot: R & J BECK / LONDON & PHILADELPHIA
stamped on heel of foot: OGDEN / BOSTON
on 2 inch objective canister: Ross, / London
on 2 inch objective: Ross. / London
on 1 1/2 inch objective canister: R & J BECK / LONDON
Inscribedstamped on heel of foot: 7932
Curatorial RemarksThis microscope appears in the 1879 R & J Beck catalogue, but under a different name, as the "Economical Microscope." See early file card for additional information.
ProvenanceErnst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 140), Harvard Medical School.
R. & J. Beck
Date: circa 1878
Accessories: oculars (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.
Object number: 1362
R. & J. Beck
Date: 1876
Accessories: Beck patent substage condenser (1122c); apertometer (1122d)
Object number: 1122b
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
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
Ross and Company
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: Ross oculars (2): C, D; anonymous objective on the tube; Ross objective 1/2 "; standing case
Object number: 1138
Ross and Company
Date: circa 1876
Accessories: paired oculars A,B; paired Ross oculars; objectives (3): :1/2 (no can), 2 Beck , 1/5 Ross; Wenham parabolic illuminator; condensor; X-Y and rotary stage; bull's eye on stand; double nosepiece; standing case
Object number: 1300
R. & J. Beck
Date: before 1889
Accessories: objective with canister; oculars (2); vertical illuminator attachment with iris and adjustable mirror; polarizer (analyzer missing); small leather case; extra coaxial illuminator mirrors (5)
Object number: 1204a
R. & J. Beck
Date: before 1889
Accessories: objective with canister; oculars (2); vertical illuminator attachment with iris and adjustable mirror; polarizer (analyzer missing); small leather case; extra coaxial illuminator mirrors (5)
Object number: 1204b
Carl Friedrich Zeiss
Date: 1885
Accessories: oculars (2): 5, 5 x 1.5; objectives (2): aa and E with canisters; Abbe condensor with swing-out mount for disk diaphragms; disk diaphragms (6); 2 cup diaphragm / cylinder stop holders; cup diaphragms (3); nicol prism polarizer in half canister; instrument case; stereoscopic eyepiece (1126c); camera lucida (1126b); blood corpuscle counting apparatus (1126d).
Object number: 1126a
Smith, Beck & Beck
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: complete set of approximately 50 accessories in two boxes [see early file card]
Object number: 1237
R. & J. Beck
Date: circa 1890
Accessories: paired oculars; objective 16mm ; analyzer in mount; polarizer in mount; mechanical stage
Object number: 1328
W. Watson & Sons Ltd.
Date: circa 1885
Accessories: oculars (2 pairs): B and D; objectives in marked canisters (4): 1/4, 1/2, 1, 3 inches; condenser with iris diaphragm; rotating wheel diaphragm; iris diaphragm; set of 4 disk diaphragms in brass box; triple nosepiece; live box; prisms for Wenham binocular system (2); stage for simple microscope with rotating wheel diaphragm; vulcanite stage; spare knobs (2); parts box; case
Object number: 1249