Extracted from the 1870 Queen catalog:
The Educational Microscope
This is believed to be the best low priced Microscope ever of offered to the public, and it may safely be relied upon as capable of performing all the work required by the young student in any department of microscopical science. It is not of course expected that it will bear comparison with Microscopes of many times its cost, but it is infinitely superior to the best Microscope ever constructed on the old (non-achromatic) plan. The simplicity of its construction, and the facility with which all those adjustments may be made that are required for the purposes it is intended to fulfill, constitute with its low price, a great recommendation to those who value a microscope rather as a means of interesting recreation for themselves, or of cultivating a taste for the study of nature, and a habit of correct observation in the young, than as an instrument of scientific research.
The stand is entirely of brass, of handsome proportions, and well finished; The compound body is mounted upon a double axis joint, allowing the instrument to be inclined at any angle convenient to the observer, with quick rack adjustment and fine screw adjustment for focus, sliding object-holder, plane and concave mirrors, Wheel of diaphragms, and the following accessories:
2 Eye Pieces,
1 Achromatic Objective,
1 inch focus, power 40 to 100 diameters.
1 Do. do. 1/4 do. do. 120 to 180 do.
1 Condensing Lens, on separate stands tweezers, forceps, animalcule cage, knife and needles, thin glass and slides for mounting objects
The whole packed In polished upright mahogany case with drawer.
1670. The same with additional object glass; power 600 diameters. . . $45 00
1671. The same with addition of Polaroscope. . . $45 00
1672. The same as 1669, with addition of Mechanical Stage. . . $45 00
The Queen "Educational Microscope" is based on the Society of Arts pattern microscope first introduced in 1855 when the Royal Society of Arts awarded its prize to English optician firm of Robert Field & Son for the design of an inexpensive microscope. It became a very popular model and was sold by many firms. It is certainly possible that this Queen microscope is an English import.
