Imported French microscope with Varley stage, c.1870
This microscope is
unsigned, but the objective is marked E. B. Meyrowitz,
New York, 1/5. E. B. Meyrowitz Opticians retailed
microscopes and other instruments; they sold both
American made and imported microscopes. This particular
example is French. A very similar microscope was
illustrated in the 1867 William Y. McAllister catalog.
It differes from the present example in that the main
focus is by draw-tube instead of a rack and pinion. The
following was extracted from this William Y. McAllister
catalog.
McAllister's
Complete Family Microscope:13 inches high, all brass, on tripod,
with joint, to incline, screw adjustment, draw tube,
lever stage, with secondary stage, which is very useful
diaphragm plate, mirror to give oblique light.,
condensing lens for opaque objects, Camera Lucida, by
which the object may be traced on paper of the
magnified size, Polarizing apparatus, two eye-pieces,
two sets of Achromatic Object Glasses, 50 to 500
diameters. Dissecting Knife, five objects, mahogany
with lock and handle.........$85.00
This is a really good
Family Microscope, exhibits all the Microscopic
phenomena of Direct, Oblique, and polarized
light.
A similar microscope was
also offered for sale in the James W. Queen Catalog of
1870. In this case, the microscope incorporated the
rack and pinion focusing mechanism. It was illustrated
and described as follows:
Queen's Family
Microscope: brass body, 12 inches high, on brass
stand, to incline to any angle, draw tube, two
eye-pieces, two sets of achromatic object-glasses,
condensing lens, diaphragm, double milled head, rack
and pinion for coarse adjustment and micrometer screw
for fine adjustment, lever stage, so that the object
may be brought directly in the field of view with the
greatest facility. Polarizing apparatus and selenite
plate, dissecting needles, six objects. Power 50, 150,
250, 400, and 500 diameters; in a mahogany box. Price
$75.00
Examples of this microscope signed Mirand Aine rue
Galande 57, Paris and Breton Rue Dauphine, 23, a Paris
are known. It is not clear who the actual maker is.