Tolles student-type compound microscope
Datecirca 1870
Inventory Number1130
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Boston Optical Works
fl. 1867 - 1895
Maker
Robert B. Tolles
1823 - 1883
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope: 33.8 × 15.5 × 18.5 cm (13 5/16 × 6 1/8 × 7 5/16 in.)
case: 38.9 × 18.5 × 20.9 cm (15 5/16 × 7 5/16 × 8 1/4 in.)
case: 38.9 × 18.5 × 20.9 cm (15 5/16 × 7 5/16 × 8 1/4 in.)
Material
Accessories3 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.
DescriptionThis is an example of the "Student's Microscope" as shown in the catalogues of Boston Optical Works / Charles Stodder published in 1871 and 1873 (see copies in the file for 1045). CHSI inventory numbers 1129, 1130, 1131, 1286, 1294, 1338 are all "Student's Microscopes."
Fine focus by a graduated screw under the stage, which lifts one end of the springy slide support. The stage has no x-y motions.
The objectives currently with the instrument were tested on Swift SRL Sept. 28, 1970:
1" undated 5x bright and sharp. front lens.
1/2" long solid. 1/8 " Dec. 13 1860 (case was with 1016), 40x flat and sharp. Immersion 1/6" Nov 3, 1878 40x sharp and quite flat.
Fine focus by a graduated screw under the stage, which lifts one end of the springy slide support. The stage has no x-y motions.
The objectives currently with the instrument were tested on Swift SRL Sept. 28, 1970:
1" undated 5x bright and sharp. front lens.
1/2" long solid. 1/8 " Dec. 13 1860 (case was with 1016), 40x flat and sharp. Immersion 1/6" Nov 3, 1878 40x sharp and quite flat.
In Collection(s)
SignedBOSTON / OPTICAL WORKS / TOLLES
Inscribedon underside of stage, right hinge locking screw, and arm: 33
ProvenanceDr. Oliver Wendell Holmes; gift to Warren Anatomical Museum, March 15 1888; Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 130), Harvard Medical School.
Historical AttributesFormerly Ernst-Lewis collection number 130. Note from Dr. Lewis: "This microscope belonged to Dr. O. W. Holmes who presented it to the Warren Museum Mar. 15, 1888. [see tag in parts box] No oculars or eye-pieces. Black walnut box."
Robert B. Tolles
Date: after 1877
Accessories: 3 Tolles objectives: 1/4 with collar, no date; 1/2 "TOLLES, BOSTON, dated 1877, cap instead of can; 2" (unusual) in can; 2 anonymous 24.5mm dia. oculars; single substage mirror; stage clips; double mirror on stand; standing case with key.
Object number: 1131
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: 1 Ocular; extension tube : "Tolles' Amplifier"; 1 nondescript objective whithout shell; diaphragm wheel but no condensor; concave substage mirror; x-y sliding stage; stage clips.
Object number: 1129
Robert B. Tolles
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: Tolles ocular, 24.5 mm dia.; Tolles 1/4" objective; no condensor; diaphragm wheel; concave/flat substage mirror; standing walnut case.
Object number: 1294
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
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: 1 Tolles objective with cap : 1/4" 40 deg. , dated 5/12/1868; 2 oculars 24.5 mm dia. ; simple stage with clips; diaphragm wheel; no condensor; substage mirror; objective cap; standing walnut case.
Object number: 1286
Robert B. Tolles
Date: circa 1874
Accessories: 3 Objectives: Tolles (?) with front element missing, no date; Leitz 1/12 oel imm., tubus 160 mm; Tolles 1/6" 35 deg., no date; 4 Tolles oculars 24.5 mm dia.; condensor w. iris; diaphragm wheel; substage mirror w. opt. stand; Nichol's micr.; case. camera luc Abbe condensor; diaphragm wheel; separate stand f. substage mirror; standing case.
Object number: 1305
Robert B. Tolles
Date: circa 1865
Accessories: 3 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.
Object number: 1008
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
R. B. Tolles and C. E. Grunow
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: No objective; 1 medium power solid Tolles ocular of 34 mm dia., marked: "Pat'd. Sept. 25 1855." ; no condenser or diaphragm; single small concave substage mirror.
Object number: 1137
Boston Optical Works
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: 1 Tolles objective 1/4 "; 1 ocular 24.5 mm dia.; stage clips; no condensor; diaphragm wheel; single concave substage mirror; no case.
Object number: 1158
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
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