Tolles polarizing intermediate compound microscope
Datecirca 1880
Inventory Number1017
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Boston Optical Works
fl. 1867 - 1895
Maker
Robert B. Tolles
1823 - 1883
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 37.7 × 15.5 × 22.5 cm (14 13/16 × 6 1/8 × 8 7/8 in.)
case: 42 × 26 × 19.7 cm (16 9/16 × 10 1/4 × 7 3/4 in.)
case: 42 × 26 × 19.7 cm (16 9/16 × 10 1/4 × 7 3/4 in.)
Material
Accessories5 objectives; 2 (non-solid) oculars 30 mm dia.; polarizer to fit eyepiece tube ; substage polarizer; stage ring insert with 2 clamps; cardboard box with two slides; 3 flat plates of ceramic/porcelain, approx. 7 x16 x0.2; 9 x14.5 x0.2; 9 x13x 0.2; case
DescriptionIntermediate-sized laboratory microscope has a coarse focus by dovetail, rack and pinion; fine focus by screw and lever on objective sleeve; curved brass post, partly painted black, with tilt joint to black-painted, iron, flat pillars and Y-base. Brass stage with sliding glass stage (like Zentmayer microscopes )locked with ivory tipped screw. Substage tube (no condenser) with diaphragm wheel; substage double mirror on swinging arm.
The instrument and optics appear to be by Tolles but are not signed. The objectives have no adjustment for coverglass, are short mounted, and of moderate power. This, and the polarizer set, suggest use in metallurgy or geology. Two objectives look similar and are marked 1/4 but differ slightly in details.
Objectives have been tested in 1970 by E. Gay and found very good. One is dated 1874 (see file for more information).
The instrument and optics appear to be by Tolles but are not signed. The objectives have no adjustment for coverglass, are short mounted, and of moderate power. This, and the polarizer set, suggest use in metallurgy or geology. Two objectives look similar and are marked 1/4 but differ slightly in details.
Objectives have been tested in 1970 by E. Gay and found very good. One is dated 1874 (see file for more information).
In Collection(s)
Signedunsigned
Inscribedstamped on underside of stage: 423
FunctionProbably for geology or metallurgy.
ProvenanceHenry Pelham Curtis; Mr. Lawrence Curtis; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 17), Harvard Medical School, May 1916.
Historical AttributesDr. Lewis: "Presented on May 5, 1916 by Mr. Lawrence Curtis- coming from his oldest brother, Henry Pelham Curtis, A.B. 1870 died March 1931 (note envelope in box).
E. Hartnack & A. Prazmowski
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: objectives (7): 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9,10 in fitted box ; eyepieces (4): 1, 4, 5, 6; cup diaphragms (4); polarizer set; bull's eye condenser on stand; Oberhaeuser-style camera lucida; tweezers; substage rotating wheel diaphragm attached to holder with blue glass filter; substage glass filter holder with blue glass filter; substage condenser; dual nosepiece, Hartnack 1/100 mm stage micrometer; flat case; key; magnification table; price lists (2).
Object number: 1080
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
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
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862
Accessories: 3 Oculars: 1, 2, 3; 3 Objectives in fitted box:1, 2, 3; one on tube: also #5, but longer; Camera lucida "Nachet"; 9 Glass slides; Cover glasses; bull's eye on jointed arm; wheel with 2 stops under stage; small blue filter; flat case with key.
Object number: 1069
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862
Accessories: 3 Oculars: 1, 2, 3; 3 Objectives in fitted box:1, 2, 3; one on tube: also #5, but longer; Camera lucida "Nachet"; 9 Glass slides; Cover glasses; bull's eye on jointed arm; wheel with 2 stops under stage; small blue filter; flat case with key.
Object number: 1069a
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: circa 1937
Accessories: standard eyepieces (3): 8X P, Periplan. OK 10X, and Periplan. Ok. 25X; wide eyepieces (3): 1, 1, 8X, 10X; objectives (4) in fitted case: 1b 4.3X, 3 10X, P7 62X, P 1/12 oel; waveplates (2); condenser with polarizer; mechanical stage; loupe 6x; box of cover glasses; standing case; key; objective adaptors (4); and watch keys (2)
Object number: 1999-1-0020a
Robert B. Tolles
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: One objective: Tolles 1/10 immersion, 180 air angle, dated 8/20/1874, with canister (7 others are now in 1214a); 2 pairs of oculars; magnifier on base marked: J. R. W. /P...?, ME, ; polarizer; drawing prism; diaphragm disc; case.
Object number: 1214
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
Boston Optical Works
Date: 1860-1890
Accessories: Three dated Tolles objectives: 1/2" Nov. 18, 1860, 1/4" Dec. 23, 1877, 1/5" Oct. 28, 1868; 1 high power solid eyepiece, 1 low power normal eyepiece; polarizer; substage mirror; mechanical stage, standing case.
Object number: 1066
Spencer Lens Company
Date: circa 1940
Accessories: oculars (3): 6x, 10x, and pinhole; objectives (4): B&L 45x, AO 40x, Spencer 10x, B&L 16 mm; quick-change objective holders (2); quick-change centerable objective holders (3); petrographic substage condenser and polarizer; Amici-Bertrand lens; Polaroid analyzer; quartz wedge; full-wave plate; blue filters; case, key
Object number: 1378a
Voigt & Hochgesang
Date: circa 1891
Accessories: ocular; quarter wave slide; objectives (6):7, 7, 9, 9, 4 , 4; objective case for extra objectives [1208b]
Object number: 1208a,b
Spencer Lens Company
Date: circa 1937
Accessories: objectives in quick-release mounts (3): Spencer 6x and 20x, B&L 45x; full wave plate; quartz wedge; rotary vernier stage; Abbe condenser; Ahrens prism polarizer; case
Object number: 1320