Compound Microscope and Accessories in Case, English, c. 1770

The body tube of this copper alloy microscope is in two sections that push together. The upper part has an eyepiece with a blackened eyecup, a sliding dust cover and an internal lens. The lower section also has an internal lens. The narrow nose has an external thread for objectives. A socket, with a tightening screw, on the body fits a square peg on a hinge at the top of the pillar. The upper part of the pillar has a square cross section. The lower part is turned and stands on a flat, folding tripod base. A socket on the base holds the Plano-concave mirror. The stage has a circular, recessed stage hole and three wings. These carry a keyhole slot, a pinhole and a smaller stage hole. There are two spring clips on the under side of the stage to hold glass phials. The stage is held on the pillar by a sleeve that slides for coarse focusing. A second sleeve with a locking screw is mounted above the first. Fine focus is achieved by a vertical screw between the two. The accessories include a Bonani spring stage, a lens in an eyecup, a sub stage cone, a mirror in a horseshoe mount, six objectives, a copper alloy wet cell, a fish plate, Lieberkühn in a can, a live box, stage forceps with a black and white ivory disk, an attachment for stage accessories, an ivory talc box and two silver keys. The fitted case is covered in black fish skin and lined in red velvet.