Zeiss stand I laboratory compound microscope
Datecirca 1886
Inventory Number1123a
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Inventor
Ernst Abbe
1840 - 1905
Maker
Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena
1846 - 1904
Maker
Carl Zeiss (company timeline)
founded 1846
Maker
Charles X. Dalton
1840 - 1912
Maker
Boston Optical Works
fl. 1867 - 1895
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions30.2 × 12.8 × 15 cm (11 7/8 × 5 1/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
case: 14.8 × 44.5 × 28 cm (5 13/16 × 17 1/2 × 11 in.)
case: 14.8 × 44.5 × 28 cm (5 13/16 × 17 1/2 × 11 in.)
Material
Accessoriesoculars (5): 0, 1,2, 3, 4; objectives (7): AA, A, C, D, E, F, 1/12 Homog. Immers. Apert. 1.20; Abbe condenser; disc diaphragms (6); cup diaphragms (3) with frame; articulated substage mirror; cyllindrical wooden box; key; case. See also Leitz camera lucida in small box (1123b) and stage screw micrometer (1123c).
Description1123a is a Zeiss laboratory compound microscope with stand I. It has a large horse-shoe shaped base and a heavy square brass stage. Nickel stage clips are currently in the box. The coarse adjustment is by rack and pinion; fine focus is by a knob on top of the post. The fine adjustment knob has a divided circle and its finial is marked "1U=0.47." The pointer is attached to the bracket.
The microscope is equipped with both a regular substage mirror and an articulated
substage mirror. The regular mirror is attached to a bracket below the stage, which also holds a condenser and swing out mount for a set of 6 disc diaphragms. The position of the diaphragms on the swing out mount is regulated by rack and pinion.
The case also holds a frame for 3 interchangeable cup diaphragms.
The microscope has a nickel-plated quadruple nosepiece. The case holds 7 objectives in canisters and 5 oculars. The canisters are engraved for the corresponding obectives they hold: AA, A, C, D, E, F, 1/12 Homog. Immers. Apert. 1.20.
The draw tube for the oculars is graduated in centimeters.
Accessories for the microscope also include a stage screw micrometer in a separate mahogany box [1123c] and a camera lucida in a wooden box [1123b]. The latter is stored inside the case; the former is outside the case.
The microscope case is a rugged wooden box with heavy brass latch hooks, a lock and key, and a nickel-plated handle. Nailed to the inside lid is a tradecard of Charles X. Dalton. The card reads: "BOSTON OPTICAL WORKS . . . / CHARLES X. DALTON, / [(] SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE R. B. TOLLES) / MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN / New and Second-hand / Microscopes, Telescopes, and Accessories. / 40 HANOVER STREET, ROOM 1, / BOSTON. / Prompt and skilful attention given to repairing Telescopes, Microscopes, / Analytical Balances and other Scientific Apparatuses. / A LIST OF TOLLES OBJECTIVES ALWAYS ON HAND."
The microscope is equipped with both a regular substage mirror and an articulated
substage mirror. The regular mirror is attached to a bracket below the stage, which also holds a condenser and swing out mount for a set of 6 disc diaphragms. The position of the diaphragms on the swing out mount is regulated by rack and pinion.
The case also holds a frame for 3 interchangeable cup diaphragms.
The microscope has a nickel-plated quadruple nosepiece. The case holds 7 objectives in canisters and 5 oculars. The canisters are engraved for the corresponding obectives they hold: AA, A, C, D, E, F, 1/12 Homog. Immers. Apert. 1.20.
The draw tube for the oculars is graduated in centimeters.
Accessories for the microscope also include a stage screw micrometer in a separate mahogany box [1123c] and a camera lucida in a wooden box [1123b]. The latter is stored inside the case; the former is outside the case.
The microscope case is a rugged wooden box with heavy brass latch hooks, a lock and key, and a nickel-plated handle. Nailed to the inside lid is a tradecard of Charles X. Dalton. The card reads: "BOSTON OPTICAL WORKS . . . / CHARLES X. DALTON, / [(] SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE R. B. TOLLES) / MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN / New and Second-hand / Microscopes, Telescopes, and Accessories. / 40 HANOVER STREET, ROOM 1, / BOSTON. / Prompt and skilful attention given to repairing Telescopes, Microscopes, / Analytical Balances and other Scientific Apparatuses. / A LIST OF TOLLES OBJECTIVES ALWAYS ON HAND."
Signedin cursive lettering on tube: Carl Zeiss, / Jena.
in cursive lettering on nosepiece: Carl Zeiss, Jena.
on canisters: C. ZEISS / JENA
on objectives A, D, E: C. ZEISS
on immersion objective: C. ZEISS
on trade card: BOSTON OPTICAL WORKS . . . / CHARLES X. DALTON, / [(] SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE R. B. TOLLES) / . . . . / 40 HANOVER STREET, ROOM 1, / BOSTON.
Inscribedon tube: No. 8774
on parts of articulated mirror and its case bracket: 6
blindstamped on case: 8774
scratched on lid for canister of objective E: M III
Curatorial RemarksErnst-Lewis Collection no. 123. Dr. Lewis notes: "Dr Charles Sedgewick Minot's favorite Zeiss. This was the approved type of research microscope at Harvard for a decade or two (from 1880). Also of this pattern were Zeiss 5908 donated by Dr. Minot to Mr. Alton Makurin and supposed to have been Dr. Quincy's. Dr. Franklin was owner (presumably of another ) of 9005. The quadruple nose-piece (on 8774 [this one]) of later pattern than 8749 (our 1125). Objectives AA, C, D, E, F. Oculars 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (4 and 5 from 9005). Three marked MINOT. He took particular pride in the worn brass areas on blackened stage as evidence of extensive use. However, other instruments show same wear. The rotation of the stage and superstructure upon substage portion is an obvious feature of this pattern."
ProvenanceDr. Charles Sedgewick Minot, Harvard Medical School, Boston, circa 1886; Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (no. 123), Harvard Medical School.
Historical AttributesThis microscope was used by Dr. Charles Sedgewick Minot, professor of comparative anatomy at Harvard Medical School. It was his favorite Zeiss. The rectangular stage has been rubbed to a polish where his thumb and finger moved the slide.
This was the approved type of research microscope at Harvard Medical School from around 1880 until 1900.
Santiago Ramón y Cajal, neuroscientist and histologist was photographed with a similar Zeiss microscope in his laboratory at the University of Valencia, Spain, in 1885, around the time when he became interested in the structure of the nervous system. (This photo is in the Cajal Institute, Madrid, Spain.)
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: 1888
Accessories: objectives (5): Leitz immersion 1/12 and 1/20, objectives 3, 5, 7 in leather covered wooden fitted box [1067b]; oculars (3): 0, 1, 3; dark field and disk diaphragms (2); cup diaphragms (3) with slide holder; Abbe condenser; extra substage mirror; iris diaphram and mirror on one bracket; microscope case with key; Leitz Bi-centric darkfield condenser Model B in brown leather shaped box [1167d]; set of test slides in a wooden box [1167c]
Object number: 1067a
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: 1891
Accessories: 2 RMS objectives in original canisters marked E. Leitz 1 and 5; 2 empty canisters 3 and 7; 4 oculars : 1, 3, 4, 5; triple nosepiece; Abbe condenser; 3 cup diaphragms with holder; blue glass filter; standing case with key.
Object number: 1172
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
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: 1898
Accessories: objectives (3): Leitz 3, 7 in original canisters; Spencer Lens Co. 2mm N.A. 1.30 ser. no. 9197; oculars (2): 3, 2; Abbe condenser; holder with 3 cup diaphragms; glass filters (2); box of cover slips; key; standing case
Object number: 1994-1-0007a
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
Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena
Date: circa 1898
Accessories: oculars (4): 2, 4, and compensating oculars 6, 8; objectives: AA, DD, a2, and apochromat HI 2.0 mm; triple nosepiece; swing-out condenser with iris-cylinder diaphragm; disk diaphragm and central stop diaphragm; filter; eyepiece micrometer, brush, spare stage clips; large mechanical stage (2006-1-0114b); centering glass (2006-1-0114c) with instructions; magnification tables (2); standing case; key; leather traveling case (2006-1-0114d).
Object number: 2006-1-0114a
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
Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena
Date: circa 1886
Accessories: oculars (2): Leitz 4xB, Winkel Zeiss kl 2; objectives (4): Leitz 7, 1/7a oil immersion, Zeiss B, HI 90 iris, B&L 8mm, 1/5, Grunow 1/6; B&L double nosepiece; parabolic reflector for stage; Abbe condensor with iris-cylinder diaphragm; articulated substage mirror; frame for cup diaphragms; cup diaphragms (2); Zeiss-B&L polarizing analyzer A6; Zeiss-B&L vertical illuminator; flat case; key.
Object number: 1044
Robert B. Tolles
Date: 1860-1874
Object number: 1045a-v
Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena
Date: circa 1902
Accessories: oculars (5); objectives (5); microplanar objectives (2); iris diaphragm; abbe condenser; collars and sleeves for photography; parts box; Leitz object micrometer (1308b); cardioid condenser (1308d); immersion oil bottle (1308c) ; Leitz erecting prism (1308e); standing case with key
Object number: 1308a
See also/See also
