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History of Science Museum

Compound Binocular Microscope, by Nachet, Paris, c. 1860

Inventory Number 37670.1


Subject
Microscopy
Item type
Object
Provenance
Lent by the Royal Microscopical Society in 1970 Purchased through Dr H. Jackson by members of Council and presented 18 October 1933. Once belonged to Prof. Alan Thompson and J Miller Thompson.
Primary inscriptions
"NACHET ET FILS a Paris. 16, rue Serpente".
Physical material
Brass.
Dimensions
Height: 440mm
Inventory No
37670.1
Accession Number
1970-101/part

Description

The heavy, lead-filled brass foot supports the limb on trunnions. Rackwork on the limb moves a square sectioned bar to the top of which is fixed an arm holding the optical components. Light from the specimen is split into two beams by a symmetrical prism. Each of the beams travels to the eyepiece via a further prism. This form of binocular was designed to give a stereoscopic image. The body tubes have a short draw tube which holds the Huygenian eyepiece.