Exhibits in the Library

Items

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  Smith & Beck "Milk Box" Educational Microscope

  This microscope is a rare example as it has a cast iron base which appears to have been purpose-built rather than retrofitted. The actual instrument has been stripped of its gunmetal and black lacquers. The microscope is signed with a stamped with "Smith & Beck, London" on the side pillar. The cast iron base is attached to the dual side pillars which end in trunnions that allow for inclination. The square stage has a substage iris diaphragm which can be removed and a substage plano-concave mirror set in a gimbal. Coarse focusing is achieved by sliding the body-tube through the cylinder attachment connected to the main pillar. The fine focusing is controlled by knurled knob at the base of the pillar and the cast iron base is attached to a mahogany accessories tray that holds the objective and objective lens. The mahogany case is secured by a lock and key, which is broken. The base slides into the case horizontally. The microscope design was low end and became eclipsed by the binocular version —  "Popular Microscope" —  by 1865. The instrument was described by Richard Beck in his book, A Treatise, in 1865 and reviewed by Gerald Turner in his book, The Great Age of the Microscope (1989).
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  Microscope Lamp

  The lamp is made from brass and cast iron. The instrument stands on a cast iron circular stand which is painted black. The circular column is connected to the base and holds the lamp via an arm. The lamps height can be adjusted by loosening the thumbscrew and adjusting the height along the column. The glass and brass reservoir is connected to the burner and has a blue glass chimney with a white porcelain shade which is removable. The shade is held by a circular attachment which stands adjacent to the column and can be adjusted vertically by a thumbscrew located at the bottom of the arm.