The following was
extracted from the Priced and Illustrated
Catalogue of Optical Instruments, James W.
Queen & Co., Philadelphia, 1880:
This instrument
consists of a tubular stem about five inches high,
the lower end of which screws firmly into the lid
of the box wherein, instrument is packed when not
in use. To the upper end of this stem the stage is
firmly fixed; while the lower end carries a concave
mirror. Within the tubular stem is a round pillar
having a rack cut into it, against which a pinion
works that is turned by a milled head; and the
upper part of this pillar carries a horizontal arm
which bears the lenses, so that by turning the
milled head the arm may be raised or lowered, and
the requisite focal adjustment obtained. Three
magifiers are supplied, and by using them either
separately or in combination, a considerable range
of powers from about five to forty diameters is
obtained. A condensing lens for opaque objects, a
pair of brass forceps, and pliers, and an aquatic
box for the examination of objects in water, are
also supplied. This instrument is peculiarly
adapted for educational purposes, being fitted in
every particular for the examinstion of botanical
specimens, small insects or parts of insects, water
fleas, the larger animalcules, and other such
objects as young people may readily collect and
examine for themselves: and those who have
trained themselves in the application of it to the
study of nature are well prepared for the
advantageous use of the Compound Microscope. But it
also affords to the scientific inquirer all that is
essential to the pursuit of such investigations as
are best followed out by the concurrent employment
of a Simple and a Compound Microscope, the former
being most fitted for the preparation, and the
latter for the examination of many kinds of
objects; and it may.be easily adapted to the
purposes of dissection by placing it between
arm-rests or blocks of wood, or books piled one on
another so as to give a support for the hand on
either side, at or near the level of the
stage.
It is likely that this
microscope is an English import. It is based on the
design of the Society of Arts pattern School
Microscope first introduced in 1855 when the
Royal Society of Arts awarded its prize to English
optician Robert Field & Son for his design
of an inexpensive simple microscope. It became a very
popular model and was sold by many firms.