Adams's universal compound microscope
Date1820
Inventory Number1002
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Benjamin Wood
fl. 1810 - 1832
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionspacked in box: 9 x 53 x 27.5 cm (3 9/16 x 20 7/8 x 10 13/16 in.)
microscope height: 51 cm (20 1/16 in.)
microscope height: 51 cm (20 1/16 in.)
Material
Accessories10 objectives, numbered 1-10 (caps on 1 and 2); 4 objectives with lieberkuhns (one lens missing); 2 oculars; 3 simple lenses in eye cups; diaphragm cone; live box; spring stage; three-wing stage; double-convex lens on rod; simple-lens carrier on an arm; ivory black/white disk; 1 ivory disk with cork; 3 flat glass disks of differing sizes; 1 large glass disk in threaded brass rim; 1 watch glass; 3 large glass, magnifying lenses, one tinted green; 2 small magnifying glasses; stage condensor; fish plate; 2 stage forceps; 1 stage 3-pronged gripper; tweezers; 3 ivory handled knives for preparations; 10 small and 3 medium ivory slides of transparent specimens; 3 ivory slides of opaque specimens; 3 boxwood slides of transparent specimens; 1 brass wet-cell slide with 4 apertures for preparations; 2 cylindrical ivory boxes with mica cover slips and snap rings; wrench; chamois; flat case with sockets for the above; key.
DescriptionThis is a brass universal compound microscope in the style of George Adams's "universal compound microscope." It was sold by Benjamin Wood of Liverpool.
The eyepiece tube for interchangeable oculars is tapered at lower end, which screws into an arm attached to the top of long square post. The arm has a rack and pinion. The rectangular post is connected to round pillar by a hinged joint. The post carries sliders holding the mirror, substage condensor, and a stage with rack and pinion focusing. Objectives are screwed into the arm on a smaller thread than tube. The instrument almost complete with a large set of original accessories, including ivory and wooden slides holding transparent and opaque specimens.
The mahogany box is lined in places with green wool flannel cloth. A trade card is glued in the lid. The right hand side of the box has a lift out tray with turned ivory knobs. The case key (made of iron) is stored underneath along with a chamois and a fragile, worm-eaten manuscript in brown ink describing the use of the microscope and signed, "B. Wood."
Also found in the case and now held between glass plates are an invoice and a list of specimens.
"A List of the Objects, Transparent & Opaque" itemizes all the specimens on each of the 25 slides sold with the microscope. Twenty slides are still in the case.
The eyepiece tube for interchangeable oculars is tapered at lower end, which screws into an arm attached to the top of long square post. The arm has a rack and pinion. The rectangular post is connected to round pillar by a hinged joint. The post carries sliders holding the mirror, substage condensor, and a stage with rack and pinion focusing. Objectives are screwed into the arm on a smaller thread than tube. The instrument almost complete with a large set of original accessories, including ivory and wooden slides holding transparent and opaque specimens.
The mahogany box is lined in places with green wool flannel cloth. A trade card is glued in the lid. The right hand side of the box has a lift out tray with turned ivory knobs. The case key (made of iron) is stored underneath along with a chamois and a fragile, worm-eaten manuscript in brown ink describing the use of the microscope and signed, "B. Wood."
Also found in the case and now held between glass plates are an invoice and a list of specimens.
"A List of the Objects, Transparent & Opaque" itemizes all the specimens on each of the 25 slides sold with the microscope. Twenty slides are still in the case.
Signedon stand: B. Wood, Liverpool
trade card in case: Benjamin Wood / ... / Liverpool
on manuscript instructions: B Wood
Inscribedtrade card in case: Benjamin Wood's / Manufactory / FOR MATHEMATICAL OPTICAL, & NAUTICAL / IINSTRUMENTS, / No. 51. Wapping, / Near the Queens Dock / Liverpool / Charts for all Parts of the World, Instruments Cleaned & Repaird, Chronometers Rated.
ProvenancePurchased by Samuel Evans, Savannah, April 27, 1820; whereabouts unknown; Charles Morse, Newton, MA; gift of the widow, Mrs. Charles Morse, Newton, MA; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 4), Harvard Medical School, 1902.
Historical AttributesThe invoice included with this instrument is dated Liverpool, August 5, 1820 and is addressed to a Captain Charles Jayne for two dozen slides had from Benjamin Wood for £3.1.0. On the reverse of the page is a receipt dated October 31, 1820, showing that Jayne delivered the slides to a Mr. Samuel Evans of Savannah along with the balance of £3.5.0 not expended. This suggests that Evans commissioned Captain Jayne to get him the slides in Liverpool.
The manuscript instructions on the use of the microscope, signed by Benjamin Wood, refer to the new edition of George Adams's Essays on the Microscope, 1798.
Harmanus van Deyl
Date: 1807
Accessories: 2 objectives; 2 eye lenses for a fixed field lens; 1 Lieberkühn; frogplate; bull's eye; stage forceps; spring stage; live box; hand lens; 2 tweezers; 2 boxes with 59 specimen slides; glass disk; black disk; "fish" tube with wire; ivory box of mica cover slips; 5 glass slides; 3 lenses; 2 keys.
Object number: 2002-1-0075a
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
George Adams (I)
Date: circa 1770
Accessories: objective (8); objective (3) with Lieberkühns; eyepiece (2); eye shade; lens to make the stand a simple aquatic microscope; hand lens; insert (7) for stage; insect box; spring clamp (2); narrow ivory slider (11); narrow ebony slider (9); wide wooden slider (6); ivory box (2) for mica covers; specialized tweezer (4); ivory handled dissection tool (3); flexible arm for holding a magnifying lens; small articulated bull's eye to fit on stage; special four-position slider for quick mounting of small specimens; lens of ~45 mm diameter
Object number: 2002-1-0047
English
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: 4 objectives; 1 ocular; live box; 2 stage forceps; tweezers; 3 ivory slides; black and white ivory disk; mineral specimens; insect specimens; paper list of specimens; case; key.
Object number: 1163
English
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: 1 ocular; objectives (3): 1, 2, and 3; a live box; dissecting needle; stage forceps; a glass stage disk; a black and white disk; a mica disk; two glass slides; list of specimens; case.
Object number: 1053
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
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 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
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
Edmund Culpeper
Date: circa 1730
Accessories: 6 objectives for screw-barrel microscope; 3 objectives for compound body; 1 lieberkuhn; 1 opaque attachment; brass box; 2 ivory slides, 1 brass wet-cell slide; tweezer; ivory handle; glass specimen fish tube; storage box; instruction booklet by Culpeper (stored in instrument file).
Object number: 1173
George Lindsay
Date: 1742
Accessories: Hand magnifier; 5 slides with preparations; tweezers; stage forceps; # 1 lens with Lieberkühn; 2-7 lenses in slides; Lieberkühn; ivory talc box; fishskin case; original pamphlet.
Object number: 1019
Edmund Culpeper
Date: 1710-1720
Accessories: 3 ivory slides; wet cell preparation slide (outer frame only); lens holder /wrench; tweezers; small glass bottle; etui.
Object number: 1064
See also/See also
