Signed: Made for McAllister & Co., Philadelphia

Imported smaller case-mounted French microscope, c.1844

(Attributed to the Parisian optician Noël François Joseph Buron, Rue des Trois Pavillons No. 10)

Signed: Made for McAllister  &  Co., Philadelphia. Imported smaller case-mounted French microscope, c.1844
Signed: Made for McAllister  &  Co., Philadelphia. Imported smaller case-mounted French microscope, c.1844
case mounted French microscope. Signed Made for McAllister & Co., Philadelphia. c.1855

The microscope is 9.5 inches tall measuring from the top of the case. The height can be extended using the draw-tube. Focusing is by rack and pinion movement of the tube. Below the stage is an aperture wheel and a single sided mirror. The microscope is equipped with a triple button objective, one eyepiece, a stage condenser on an articulated arm, a few remaining dissecting tools, and some slides.

On the basis of the illustrations and descriptions shown in the 1844 catalog of the Parisian optician Noël François Joseph Buron, Rue des Trois Pavillons No. 10, it can be surmised that this is the firm that manufactured the microscope shown on this page. The catalog states that the firm specifically made instruments for export. Two case-mounted microscopes were offered in the catalog. This is an example of the smaller model. An example of the larger model, which was again imported by McAllister & Co., is also represented in this collection.


Made for McAllister & Co., Philadelphia. c.1844. Microscope attributed to Buron

The McAllister family was involved in the instrument/optical trade since the late 18th century beginning with the business of John McAllister in Philadelphia (see: the Family Business Timeline also The McAllister Family). The firm used the name McAllister & Co. during the period 1836-1853. Subsequently, the McAllisters had shops in both Philadelphia and New York. During the early years, the firm did not make their own microscopes, but instead, imported instruments made by European firms.


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An essay describing the work of Noël François Joseph Buron, c. 1791 - 1856 is online

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