Portable Clinical and Field Binocular Microscope, c. 1918
Portable Clinical and
Field Microscope.
This Microscope was
originally designed to meet the requirements of the
Bacteriologist who needed an instrument of upmost
portability. It Is particularly serviceable to members
of Microscopical and Natural History Societies as its
extreme portability. combined with greatest steadiness
and efficiency for high power investigations,
recommends it strongly. These instruments are in very
general use in India and Africa amongst those working
on Malaria, Sleeping sickness, etc., and have
been supplied in great numbers to the Army Medical
and Army Veterinary Departments, the Crown Agents or
the Colonies, the United States Government, etc. Coarse
Adjustment by Diagonal Rack and Pinion. Fine Adjustment
by Direct Acting micrometer Screw. The Optical Tube
slides in a cloth lined fitting to allow of the use of
very low powers. The Draw-Tube is divided and figured
in millimeters. It takes objectives; oculars and
condensers of R.M.S standard size while all the more
general accessory apparatus can be accommodated.
Normally, it is provided with a plain under stage tube
to carry a condenser but a screw focusing and swing-out
sub-stage can be fitted if desired. It is supplied in a
stiff leather case measuring approximately 9-in x 4-in
x 3 1/2-in, which has provision for carrying, in addition
to the stand, a sub-stage condenser, two oculars, three
objectives, etc.
A monocular version of the this microscope is also
in this collection. While the monocular version is relatively common, the binocular version is much less so. This is the only example I have encountered.
The following advertisement appeared in Nature, 1918