horizontal universal achromatic compound microscope
Datecirca 1840
Inventory Number1093
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Charles-Louis Chevalier
1804 - 1859
User
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr
1809 - 1894
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsmicroscope on case: 32.6 x 33 x 24.1 cm (12 13/16 x 13 x 9 1/2 in.)
case: 8.9 x 33 x 24.1 cm (3 1/2 x 13 x 9 1/2 in.)
case: 8.9 x 33 x 24.1 cm (3 1/2 x 13 x 9 1/2 in.)
Material
Accessories2 regular objectives; a high power objective; a low power objective (a variable power dissecting lens) with an extension arm for this lens; 2 dissecting lenses; 1 objective with lieberkuhn; objective with polarizer; 2 regular eyepieces; 1 erecting eyepiece; 1 micrometer eyepiece; stage micrometer, stage bull's eye condenser on jointed arm; camera lucida; tweezers; 3 dissecting tools; pillar extension;
compressorium, 2 objective adaptive mounts (one with Chevalier threads, another with Oberhauser threads); 2 adaptors for Chevalier lenses to other microscopes (one adaptor having Society threads); case.
DescriptionThis microscope is a medium universal stand for horizontal, vertical, and tilted use of the microscope. It can also be used for inverted or "chemical" operation with the stage above the objective. This instrument is similar to CHSI 1079, but has more extensive accessories.
A round pillar screws into the top of the large flat case. The pillar has a compass joint at the top which carries a short bracket to which is hinged the tube of the microscope. The microscope body can be set horizontally or vertically. The microscope optical tube has interchangeable nosepieces: one straight and the other right-angled with 90 degree prism. The draw tube has a cardboard liner. The regular body tube can be removed and replaced with a fitting to hold simple lenses for use of the microscope for dissections.
A square column is fixed to the short bracket and has a rack on which the pinions for the stage and substage mirror operate. Coarse focus is by the rack-and-pinion motion of the stage. Fine focus is by a vertical screw acting on a bracket for the stage plate. The stage is removable and can be placed on an extension rod. There is a substage diaphragm wheel.
Standard accessories with the microscope include 2 objectives, 2 dissecting lenses, 2 eyepieces, stage micrometer, stage bull's eye condenser on jointed arm, camera lucida, tweezers, 3 dissecting tools, and a pillar extension.
Accessories specially ordered by Oliver Wendell Holmes include a high power objective, a low power objective (a variable power dissecting lens), an extension arm for this lens with lock pins, objective with lieberkuhn, erecting eyepiece, micrometer eyepiece, objective with polarizer, compressorium, 2 objective mounts (one with Chevalier threads, another with Oberhauser threads), 2 adaptors for Chevalier lenses to other microscopes (one adaptor having Society threads).
A round pillar screws into the top of the large flat case. The pillar has a compass joint at the top which carries a short bracket to which is hinged the tube of the microscope. The microscope body can be set horizontally or vertically. The microscope optical tube has interchangeable nosepieces: one straight and the other right-angled with 90 degree prism. The draw tube has a cardboard liner. The regular body tube can be removed and replaced with a fitting to hold simple lenses for use of the microscope for dissections.
A square column is fixed to the short bracket and has a rack on which the pinions for the stage and substage mirror operate. Coarse focus is by the rack-and-pinion motion of the stage. Fine focus is by a vertical screw acting on a bracket for the stage plate. The stage is removable and can be placed on an extension rod. There is a substage diaphragm wheel.
Standard accessories with the microscope include 2 objectives, 2 dissecting lenses, 2 eyepieces, stage micrometer, stage bull's eye condenser on jointed arm, camera lucida, tweezers, 3 dissecting tools, and a pillar extension.
Accessories specially ordered by Oliver Wendell Holmes include a high power objective, a low power objective (a variable power dissecting lens), an extension arm for this lens with lock pins, objective with lieberkuhn, erecting eyepiece, micrometer eyepiece, objective with polarizer, compressorium, 2 objective mounts (one with Chevalier threads, another with Oberhauser threads), 2 adaptors for Chevalier lenses to other microscopes (one adaptor having Society threads).
SignedCharles Chevalier, Ingénieur, / Opticien, Palais Royal 163 Paris
InscribedStamped on sleeves for mirror and stage: 2
In script on tube: Microscope Achromatique Universel / de Charles Chevalier, Ingénieur, / Opticien, Palais Royal 163 Paris
ProvenanceDr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Harvard Medical School, c. 1840s; gift to Warren Anatomical Museum, 1888; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes, Harvard Medical School.
Historical AttributesDr. Oliver Wendell Holmes ordered this microscope from Chevalier in the 1840s and used it until 1888, when he presented it to the Warren Anatomical Museum. The microscope has many unusual accessories purchased by Holmes.
Holmes found the microscope troublesome at times even as he got much "comfort and edification" out of it. See the file card for his funny comments published in 1877 in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
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
Charles-Louis Chevalier
Date: 1830-1850
Accessories: 3 dissecting needles; 1 probe handle w/out needle; 5 lenses signed Charles Chevalier; 2 glass stage plates; long microscope eyepiece (unrelated); case, drawer with key.
Object number: 1989-4-0017
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: circa 1872
Accessories: Box covered by blue paper (1990-2-0012c), marked "mementoes"and containing 4 slides; adapter from Society thread to dual nosepiece (19901-2-0012b) with 11.4 mm threads; 2 objectives : #2 and #7 immersion. No case.
Object number: 1990-2-0012a
Charles-Louis Chevalier
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: 2 convertible objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 0,00,000; 2 oculars; simple magnifiers: 3 and 5, with support bracket; extension pillar; bull's eye stage condenser on jointed arm; forceps; 3 prepared slides; box of cover glasses; 1/100 mm stage micrometer; camera lucida; tall bell jar; padlock on chain; case with key; table of magnifications
Object number: 1079
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: 1872-1880
Accessories: Objective #1 with 11.5 mm threads; adapter to Society threads; ocular #3; condensor with iris; dual substage mirror on jointed arm; no case.
Object number: 1306
Lerebours et Secretan
Date: 1845-1855
Accessories: 2 convertible objectives; 3 nosepieces; 1 larger objective; 1 ocular; right-angled and straight tubes; mechanical stage; dissecting set; mechanical stage; case with drawer.
Object number: 1220
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: 1855-1865
Accessories: oculars (3); objectives (2 large with 13 mm thread): 4, 8 with screw canisters for the same; objectives (3 with ~6.4 mm threads); nosepieces (3); parts box; flat mahogany case; no key.
Object number: 1108
Camille Sébastien Nachet
Date: circa 1856
Accessories: 2 hand lenses; 1 convertible objective with 11.8 x 0.45 threads; case.
Object number: 1070
Ernst Leitz (company)
Date: 1888
Accessories: eyepiece no.1; objectives: 3, 7 with 12.7 mm threads in fitted box (1990-2-0004b); flat case
Object number: 1990-2-0004a
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
Breton Frères
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: 6 convertible objectives; 4 nosepieces, one with polarizer; 4 oculars; black / white disk; spare round stage with offset diaphragm; camera lucida; light polarizing insert; compressorium by Chevalier; fish trough; 2 prepared slides; 3 cuvettes; brass box specimen holder with compressed slides and collar to attach to microscope; flat case.
Object number: 1274
William Cary
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: Four objectives; high power simple magnifier; brass forceps; ivory handled dissecting needle; ivory handled knife; tortoise-shell enclosed knife; stage-mounted brass and blued steel forceps with steel pin at opposite end; articulated bull's eye condenser; live box to fit in stage; flat case.
Object number: 2002-1-0063