These microscopes have a number of features in common which suggests that they originated from the same workshop. Three of them have a unique stage focusing mechanism consisting of a stationary pinion operating on a moveable rack which is embedded within the pillar and which is attached to the stage. Each microscope has an identical mirror and mirror mounting. These microscopes can frequently be found in different configurations, either as stand-alone versions mounted on a brass disk or as case-mounted microscopes. Although the country of origin for these instruments is not known with certainy, it is assumed they are of French manufacture dating from the 3rd quarter of the 19th century and onward. They can be found with the typical French triple button achromatic objectives or with separate non-achromatic objectives. An example of one of these microscopes, on the top left, has been been observed having a storage box with an importer's trade label marked "Benj. Pike & Sons, 518 Broadway, New York". This firm had this name and address from 1855 to around 1863, thus helping to establish an approximate date for some of these instruments. Another different microscope in this collection also has some characteristics suggesting that it may have been made by the same firm as those shown on this page.

An example of the microscope on the top left has been observed with a signature on the tube: Golvin, Opticien, 9 Passage Jouffroy, Paris while an example of the microscope on the bottom left has been observed with the signature: J Kübler Ing Opt, 23 Passage du Saumon, Paris; it is not clear if either firm is a manufacturer or just a retailer of these microscopes.