Nachet medium compound microscope
Date1862-1880
Inventory Number1025a
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Nachet et Fils (I)
fl. 1862 - 1880
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionswith tube in lowest position: 26.7 x 9.9 x 12.7 cm (10 1/2 x 3 7/8 x 5 in.)
Material
Accessories5 objectives (11.5 mm) in leather-covered box (1025b): 1, 3, 5, 5, 7 immersion; 4 oculars: 1, 2, 3, no #; bull's eye on articulated stand (1025d); mahogany parts box (1025c with dissecting instruments: 6 needles, 2 scalpels, scissors, tweezers, 4 slides, box of cover glasses, 2 cup diaphragms, 1 diffuser ; flat case with fine lock, no key.
Description1025 is a fine example of the type of compound microscope that Nachet et Fils called the "moyen modèle." For descriptive purposes and better comparison with similar but not identical, early "moyen modèles" by Nachet, the assembly is divided into these components, each with their own images and written details:
1125a: the microscope with eyepieces
1125b: box of objectives and condensers
1125c: parts box, with diverse accessories
1125d: bull's eye condenser
1125e: manuscripts found in case
1125f: case
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The Nachet et Fils microscope 1125a has a horseshoe-shaped base with a cupped heel. The base is brass and weighted with lead. The stand consists of a round pillar topped with an inclining joint. This joint is attached to the stage, and the stage carries the upper part of the microscope.
The tube is carried in a sleeve attached with rack and pinion to a bracket on the main pillar of the microscope. This pillar is fixed to the back of the stage and rotates with the stage. The tube has telescoping sections. The nosepiece is integral to the tube. Coarse focus is by sliding the tube. Fine focus is by a micrometer screw in the top of the pillar.
The rotating round stage has a black glass insert. There are two, spring-loaded stage clips.
There is a substage ring mount for cup diaphragms (two are present in the case parts box). The ring mount can be swung out of the way below the stage. The substage mirror is plano-concave and has knurled screws for adjusting its angle. The mirror is fork-mounted on an articulated arm below the stage.
The microscope has 4 eyepieces (1, 2, 3, and unmarked).
The 5 objectives (1, 3, 5, 5, 7 immersion) are stored in a little box (1025b).
Other accessories are included in the fitted mahogany case (1025f) with a lift-out parts box (1029c). There is also a bull's eye condenser and stand (1025d) in the case.
A manuscript written in French on magnifications with different objectives and eyepieces combined was removed from the case and put in the instrument's file. Another manuscript notes that the microscope was presented by Dr. William F. Whitney. (These are recorded as 1125e.)
1125a: the microscope with eyepieces
1125b: box of objectives and condensers
1125c: parts box, with diverse accessories
1125d: bull's eye condenser
1125e: manuscripts found in case
1125f: case
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The Nachet et Fils microscope 1125a has a horseshoe-shaped base with a cupped heel. The base is brass and weighted with lead. The stand consists of a round pillar topped with an inclining joint. This joint is attached to the stage, and the stage carries the upper part of the microscope.
The tube is carried in a sleeve attached with rack and pinion to a bracket on the main pillar of the microscope. This pillar is fixed to the back of the stage and rotates with the stage. The tube has telescoping sections. The nosepiece is integral to the tube. Coarse focus is by sliding the tube. Fine focus is by a micrometer screw in the top of the pillar.
The rotating round stage has a black glass insert. There are two, spring-loaded stage clips.
There is a substage ring mount for cup diaphragms (two are present in the case parts box). The ring mount can be swung out of the way below the stage. The substage mirror is plano-concave and has knurled screws for adjusting its angle. The mirror is fork-mounted on an articulated arm below the stage.
The microscope has 4 eyepieces (1, 2, 3, and unmarked).
The 5 objectives (1, 3, 5, 5, 7 immersion) are stored in a little box (1025b).
Other accessories are included in the fitted mahogany case (1025f) with a lift-out parts box (1029c). There is also a bull's eye condenser and stand (1025d) in the case.
A manuscript written in French on magnifications with different objectives and eyepieces combined was removed from the case and put in the instrument's file. Another manuscript notes that the microscope was presented by Dr. William F. Whitney. (These are recorded as 1125e.)
Signedengraved on heel: NACHET ET FILS / 17, rue St. Séverin. Paris
Inscribedon label on underside of base: 25 / Dr. William F. Whitney
ProvenanceDr. William F. Whitney, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; gift to to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 25), Harvard Medical School.
Historical AttributesDr. Ernst note: "Presented by Dr. William F. Whitney with 4 oculars & 5 objectives; 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, & 1/14 for mag. to 1400 and a most interesting sprung attachment to the clips."
Dr. Lewis note: "contains box of objectives 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 immersion, 3 oculars, condensing lens & stand, 3 cup diaphragms, 2 pr. forceps, scalpel, 3 needles with black handles, scissors, brush."
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862-1880
Object number: 1025b
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862-1880
Object number: 1025c
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
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862
Accessories: 6 objectives in box (1157b) with 1 substage condenser; oblique prism condenser; 3 oculars; 1 cup diaphragm, 1 diffuser, ; camera lucida; stage and eyepiece micrometers; liquid trough; 3 dissecting knives; prepared slides in box (1157d); plain slides; cover glasses; bull's eye on jointed arm(1157e); Amici's illuminator prism with stand (1157f); compressorium (1157g); case with parts box (1157c).
Object number: 1157a
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862
Accessories: 1 cup diaphragm, 1 diffuser; camera lucida; stage and eyepiece micrometers; liquid trough; 3 dissecting knives; prepared slides in box (1157d); 3 prepared slides loose; plain slides; cover glasses; bull's eye on jointed arm(1157e); Amici's illuminator prism with stand (1157f); compressorium (1157g); case with parts box (1157c).
Object number: 1157c
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
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
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1862
Accessories: 6 objectives in box (1157b) with 1 substage condenser; oblique prism condenser
Object number: 1157b
