The Acme line of microscopes was first introduced in 1879 by the firm Sidle and Poalk of Philadelphia. The microscope shown on this web page is an example of one of the first microscopes made by this firm. It was called "The Acme". By 1880, the firm was located in Lancaster Pennsylvania under the name John W. Sidle & Co. or the "Acme Optical Works". Subsequently, the entire output of the Acme factory was consigned to the retailer and manufacturer of scientific instruments, James W. Queen of Philadelphia. Later examples of microscopes from the Acme Optical Works can be found on this website.

Reversible horseshoe base

From The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, pg 523, 1880