Small microscope on a round iron and wood base. c. 1864
The fine adjustment knob is located under the stage.
It works by tilting the upper stage plate. The microscope came supplied
with two objectives with canisters that are stored in a small leather
covered box and an adjustable stage condenser. Under the stage is an
aperture wheel. The mirror is single sided and concave.
While this
American-made microscope mounts on a round iron and
wood base which was made for it, it is possible,
given its small size and the fact that the stage is
removable, that it was originally case-mounted and
served as a field microscope. This is the only
example of this model that I have seen.
This advertisement
appeared in the Army Surgeon's Manual for use of
Medical Officers, Cadets, Chaplains, and Hospital
Stewards by William Grace published in 1864.
J&W Grunow #267
photographed next to a conventional sized
microscope,
J & W Grunow
#196
This microscope dates from around early 1860's and is
therefore of Civil War vintage. The Grunow brothers,
Julius and William, emigrated from Germany to New
York around 1849. They started in the scientific
instrument business by first working for the optician
Benjamin Pike of that city. By 1854, they began their
own operation in New Haven CT where they concentrated
on the production of microscopes. By 1864, they were
back in New York. Some years later, the partnership
ended. J. Grunow continued on to produce microscopes
up to around 1892. The total output of the Grunows
was limited in comparison to some other contemporary
firms; on the basis of the observed serial numbers,
they manufactured just over one thousand microscopes
in total.