Tolles inverted compound microscope
Datecirca 1865
Inventory Number1008
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Robert B. Tolles
1823 - 1883
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 26.5 × 13.5 × 26 cm (10 7/16 × 5 5/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
case: 40.7 × 24 × 23.7 cm (16 × 9 7/16 × 9 5/16 in.)
mirror/case: 22.7 cm (8 15/16 in.)
inclined tube / case: 25 cm (9 13/16 in.)
round base / case: 13.5 cm (5 5/16 in.)
case: 40.7 × 24 × 23.7 cm (16 × 9 7/16 × 9 5/16 in.)
mirror/case: 22.7 cm (8 15/16 in.)
inclined tube / case: 25 cm (9 13/16 in.)
round base / case: 13.5 cm (5 5/16 in.)
Material
Accessories3 Tolles objectives with correction collars in canisters: 1/12 inch undated; 1/5 inch dated 1/2/1872; 4/10 inch dated 4/30/1863; 3 eyepieces : low , 35.4 mm O.D.; med., 35.4 mm O.D., solid front and single eyelens dated 5/7/1863; high, 34.1 mm O.D., all solid; brass ring to replace stage.
DescriptionThe brass optical tube, with draw tube for eyepiece, is mounted at nose at angle on a block on circular base. The block contains a prism to direct line of sight straight up. It has fine focusing (single) nosepiece for objectives with standard R. M. S. thread. Prism has two (non-mirror image!) reflections. The square (8.6 x 8.6) brass stage projects from a triangular slide in a round pillar with coarse rack and pinion focusing. An illuminating mirror on a swinging arm above the stage slides on a second post standing behind the stage pillar.
See the accessories list for the dated objectives and eyepieces.
See the accessories list for the dated objectives and eyepieces.
In Collection(s)
Signedengraved on round base: R. B. Tolles, Canastota, N. Y.
FunctionThe microscope is called "inverted" because the stage is viewed from below, rather than from above. The arrangement was also known as a "chemical microscope" (according to Dr. Lewis's notes in the file) because rising fumes and vapors could not etch the objective optics. Nowadays it is also called a "metallurgical" microscope for the same reason and because it is easy to lay an irregularly-shaped specimen on the stage. It is also useful when looking into liquids since the bottom of the container can be made optically flat while the surface of the liquid is not.
ProvenanceDr. Frederick Cheever Shattuck; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 8), Harvard Medical School, 1917.
Historical AttributesOwned by Dr. Frederick Cheever Shattuck (1847- 1929), A. B. Harvard 1868, M.D. 1873, and the James Jackson Professor of Clinical Medicine at Harvard. A particularly detailed note on the history of this microscope type by Dr. F. C. Lewis, is in the file. Nothing is known of the use Dr. Shattuck made of the instrument or when he got it.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr
Date: circa 1867
Accessories: 3 Tolles oculars (low power, 30.1 mm O.D.; medium power, 30.1 mm O.D., solid front with scale, single eye lens; high power, 24.7 mm O.D., single front, solid eye lens); 1 ocular (without a lens) ; 1 objective (without a lens).
Object number: 1028
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
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 3 Tolles objectives: 1 with 3 fronts; empty can 8/10; 5 Tolles oculars 34 mm dia.: 2 all solid, 2 solid field l. & single eye lens, 1 std.; centerable condenser with diaphragm wheel; mech. stage; side illuminator prism; cabinet.
Object number: 1016a
R. B. Tolles and C. E. Grunow
Date: circa 1862
Accessories: Tolles objective marked 4" on case but scratched 1 1/2 on barrel, dated 5/20/1873; Tolles solid ocular 34 mm diameter.
Object number: 1128
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
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 3 Tolles oculars 24.5 mm dia. : high power solid, med and low Huyghens; 2 Tolles objectives: 1/6 immersion dated 11/3/1878 and 1"(by can), no date, no collar; polarizer, no analyzer; substage double mirror; diaphragm wheel; no condenser; case.
Object number: 1130
Robert B. Tolles
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: 2 Tolles objectives: 1/8" dated 6/27/1866; 1/8" 120 deg. dated 3/7/1869, can marked: Immersion, also scratched: C. X. D. 1902; empty can for Tolles 1/4", now on inverted Tolles Nr. 1203; 2 oculars, no name, not solid, 24.5 mm dia.; Standing case.
Object number: 1127
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 3 Tolles objectives: 1 with 3 fronts; empty can 8/10; 5 Tolles oculars 34 mm dia.: 2 all solid, 2 solid field l. & single eye lens, 1 std.; blue filter; case; key. Also see 1016a: microscope with centerable condenser with diaphragm wheel; and mechanical stage. 1016c: side illumination prism. 1016d, e, f: specialized Tolles objectives.
Object number: 1016b
Charles X. Dalton
Date: 1890
Accessories: One original eyepiece , probably not by Tolles, 33.8 mm O.D. ; 1 objective, "Tolles / Boston", low power, no collar, transferred by E. Gay from 1158.
Object number: 1026
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
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: 5 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
Object number: 1017
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