Nachet dissecting compound microscope
Datecirca 1856
Inventory Number1070
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Camille Sébastien Nachet
1799 - 1881
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 29 × 21.6 × 18.8 cm (11 7/16 × 8 1/2 × 7 3/8 in.)
case: 20 × 24.6 × 18.5 cm (7 7/8 × 9 11/16 × 7 5/16 in.)
case: 20 × 24.6 × 18.5 cm (7 7/8 × 9 11/16 × 7 5/16 in.)
Material
Accessories2 hand lenses; 1 convertible objective with 11.8 x 0.45 threads; case.
Bibliography
DescriptionThis microscope has a tripod base of cast iron painted green. A bright brass vertical pillar supports an arm that has a collar to hold the monocular tube. Coarse focus is by sliding the tube in the collar. Fine focus by rack and pinion.
The eyepiece has a lens ground onto the surface of a 45° prism. A second dove prism before the objective completes the erection system to facilitate dissection.
The objective is convertible, consisting of three button lenses screwed together. Objective threads are 11.8 x 0.45 mm.
The microscope has a fitted walnut case padded with green wool. The case holds two hand magnifiers. The box is dovetailed.
The eyepiece has a lens ground onto the surface of a 45° prism. A second dove prism before the objective completes the erection system to facilitate dissection.
The objective is convertible, consisting of three button lenses screwed together. Objective threads are 11.8 x 0.45 mm.
The microscope has a fitted walnut case padded with green wool. The case holds two hand magnifiers. The box is dovetailed.
Signedengraved on one side of arm: NACHET / Opticien / à Paris.
engraved on the other side of the arm: Rue Serpente, 16
FunctionContemporary dissection microscopes were simple magnifiers without compound lenses. This microscope is more elaborate, but has the optical advantages of the compound microscope, and a more comfortable working position with the erecting prisms and inclined eyepiece.
ProvenanceDr. Frederick Cheever Shattuck, Harvard Medical School; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 70), Harvard Medical School, 1919.
Historical AttributesGiven to the Ernst-Lewis Collection by Dr. F. C. Shattuck in 1919.
Nachet introduced this microscope in 1847 and made it for about 10 years.
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1855-1865
Accessories: oculars (3); objectives (2 large with 13 mm thread): 4, 8 with screw canisters for the same; objectives (3 with ~6.4 mm threads); nosepieces (3); parts box; flat mahogany case; no key.
Object number: 1108
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1856-1862
Accessories: case; key; oculars (4): 0, 1, 2, 3; objectives in box (1106b); parts box with accessories (1106c); condenser on stand (1106d); Nachet prism (1106e)
Object number: 1106a
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1856-1862
Accessories: oculars (2): 2 , 3; objectives (6) in fitted box (1029b): 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, along with substage condenser and oblique Nachet prism condenser; cup diaphram; flat case with parts box (1029c) holding diffuser, camera lucida; stage micrometer; ocular micrometer; wet specimen trough, 4 slides in red leather box (1029d); bull's eye condenser.
Object number: 1029a
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1856-1862
Accessories: flat case with parts box (1029c) holding diffuser, camera lucida; stage micrometer; ocular micrometer; wet specimen trough, 4 slides in red leather box (1029d); bull's eye condenser (1029e).
Object number: 1029c
Charles-Louis Chevalier
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: 2 regular objectives; a high power objective; a low power objective (a variable power dissecting lens) with an extension arm for this lens; 2 dissecting lenses; 1 objective with lieberkuhn; objective with polarizer; 2 regular eyepieces; 1 erecting eyepiece; 1 micrometer eyepiece; stage micrometer, stage bull's eye condenser on jointed arm; camera lucida; tweezers; 3 dissecting tools; pillar extension;
compressorium, 2 objective adaptive mounts (one with Chevalier threads, another with Oberhauser threads); 2 adaptors for Chevalier lenses to other microscopes (one adaptor having Society threads); case.
Object number: 1093
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1856-1862
Accessories: objectives (6): 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, along with substage condenser and oblique Nachet prism condenser; case
Object number: 1029b
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1845-1850
Accessories: oculars (2): unmarked; objectives (7) : ?, 1(?), 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 in fitted wood box (1081b); mechanical stage (1081c); adjustable bull's eye; concave substage mirror; diaphragm wheel; specimen tray; black-white disk; case.
Object number: 1081a
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1872-1880
Accessories: Objective #1 with 11.5 mm threads; adapter to Society threads; ocular #3; condensor with iris; dual substage mirror on jointed arm; no case.
Object number: 1306
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: circa 1872
Accessories: Box covered by blue paper (1990-2-0012c), marked "mementoes"and containing 4 slides; adapter from Society thread to dual nosepiece (19901-2-0012b) with 11.4 mm threads; 2 objectives : #2 and #7 immersion. No case.
Object number: 1990-2-0012a
A. Nachet
Date: circa 1885
Accessories: Fixed (?) ocular with crosshairs; flip analyzer in tube; standard 11.5 x 0.45 mm objective No. 5 , but in sliding mount; substage polarizer; no case.
Object number: 1202
A. Nachet
Date: 1880-1890
Accessories: 3 Objectives: #7 Nachet with adjustment collar and Society thread in cannister (1107c), small box with # 3 and 6 (11.5 mm threads) and adapter to Society threads (1107b); 2 oculars: no # and 2; bull's eye condenser; pill box with with cover glasses; flat case (1107d) with key.
Object number: 1107a
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1856-1862
Accessories: box
Object number: 1029d