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franklyn
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Fine old instruments
I'm very fond of late 19 th century instrumentation the pinnacle
of fine craftsmanship. I just purchased this fine example for $ 100.
Original cost would not have been much more , at a time when
professional employment would have paid $ 1 a day , that would
have been 4 months income.
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.
" Continental " style compound monocular microscope.
Model BB , 12 inch tall , brass construction , This is the
familiar form essentially unchanged into the present day.
Among the first made having triple objective rotating turret.
A plain stage without vernier setting and a condenser above
the illumination mirror. Enameled horseshoe pedestal
manufactured late in 1896 or early 1897 serial number 24901
The vendor's photos are attached below.
Here are two others _
The same BB model from 1905 _
http://www.arsmachina.com/s-bl1463.htm
A much better model BB from 1898 _
http://www.arsmachina.com/s-bl1410.htm
another from 1909 _
http://www.arsmachina.com/b&L1306.htm
Mine pales compared to this magnificent 1898 top of the line model DDS _
http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/Grand_model_micros...
Many more fine examples to be found here.
http://www.arsmachina.com/microsale3.htm
http://www.arsmachina.com/microsale4.htm
http://www.arsmachina.com/micro_1.htm , 8 additional pages
http://www.musoptin.com/mikro1.html
http://www.techinst.com/antiquecollection.html
http://www.arco-iris.com/George/microscopy.htm
http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/esim.asp?c=500148
http://www.mikroskop-online.de/mikroskopmuseum.html ,
click at the foot of the page for subsequent pages or use the
following two links here _
http://www.mikroskop-online.de/mikroskopmuseum2.html
http://www.mikroskop-online.de/mikroskopmuseum3.html
http://www.antique-microscopes.com
http://www.antique-microscopes.com/siteindex.html
http://www.antique-microscopes.com/links.html
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Mr. Wizard
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Well now you know you'll have more people bidding against you next time. Thanks for the link, it is a beautiful piece of equipment.
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franklyn
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Link ? what link.
Funny thing I had no idea 3 days ago that I would be buying a microscope
until I happened upon this one for sale quite inadvertently.
I did not bid for it , I bought it outright , here _
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2861748
There is one on ebay right now _
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=35028...
if the optics are good you can bet there will be sniping on it. It only has
two objectives and no condensor , serial number 22441 dates it to 1896
How do I know that ? see here _
http://www.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/HowOldIsThatMicro...
Another nearly exact one cleaned up , serial 50266 dates to 1904
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=32046...
and this one retail , serial 40949 dates to 1903
http://www.houseoftheferret.com/index.php?id=1116
Because this is an elaborate model and has the case it perhaps is worth the premium
I would want to see detailed pictures and ask very pointed questions
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=15038...
Of course if you have ample discretionary funds to spend there are choice
items available for purchase.
http://www.gilai.com/product_944/Bausch-and-Lomb-Brass-Conti...
http://www.micro-opticsmicroscopes.com/microantique.php
There are these in Geneva Switzerland 588.C & 589.C , $ 1 ~ 1 Swiss Frank
http://www.perret-antiques.ch/microscopes/Microscopes.html
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Mr. Wizard
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The link I was referring to was the pictures. If you go to the main body of the URL 'arsmachinadotcom' it takes you to the collection of instruments
and mentions some of them are for sale. I mistakenly got the impression that's where you had obtained them.
Thanks for the real links too. I too find this sort of thing almost an art form. More stuff I have to look at and lust over.
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gsd
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Wow franklyn! what a beauty!
You certainly managed to make me extremely envious 
In my childhood I was extremely fascinated by two optical instruments - Telescope and Microscope. I managed to construct a crude but workable
telescope in my school days but the microscope eluded me. I handled it in botany practicals in college but my subsequent choice of career did not
involve use of any of these machines.
gsd
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sonogashira
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It is very nice 
Can I ask you though - do you think it is as good as a more modern microscope for the optical properties? (For a similar price I mean - previously
owned probably.)
Maybe the glass is not so well made do you think? My friend is going to buy one, and I think he is more interested in how it works, but if these are
good (and cheap) then obviously an old one would look nicer next to the retort! Hehe!
Very nice pictures!
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franklyn
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@ sonogashira
" obviously an old one would look nicer next to the retort! "
- and you can place a Jacob's ladder next to a skull with a candle on top 
" is it as good as a more modern microscope for the optical properties ? "
Depends on your use, improvements are mostly functional, in that regard
early instruments were still a work in progress and not as utilitarian as
modern scopes. Modern scopes are electrically lit and ready for use while
the antiquated one requires you to adjust the illumination mirror to your
light source. I would say that a late model used scope originally priced
at $600 - 1200 is more convenient to work with.
These were state of the art optics in their day. A technology which
by that time was some hundreds of years old ( remember Galileo ).
These in particular were the highest grade professional instruments
then available. Today optics are made with very minor improvement
which really only affects how they are made and their cost. For
example a lens then might be oil filled and for this reason made quite
robust , consequently incurring expectedly high cost for fabrication.
Today it's equivalent would be pressed by a machine and contain
a flourite salt. You can get some idea from the materials used for the
body of the instrument. Cost cutting in time substituted polished brass
with enameled steel , and much later injection molded plastic became
the norm. Remember that then such a microscope might cost several
months salary. Today even quite a good instrument would not exceed
two weeks pay.
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sonogashira
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Thank you! I forgot about the lighting issue. I think I won't tell him to get an antique then... but I am now interested to get one for myself!
Luckily I am in the uk and I imagine there will be a lot of good victorian-era microscopes about which would be very nice to have even if I have no
real use. Maybe this could be the start of my interest in biology....
Thank you.
[Edited on 1-1-2010 by sonogashira]
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Magpie
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Although not near the vintage of franklyn's Bausch & Lomb microscope, here's some photos of my Kern polarimeter. Compared to modern molded
plastic construction this heavy (iron/steel) insturment has an antique look and feel about it. The inspection tag says "D-62" which may indicate a
date of construction of 1962, but this is just a guess.
It was sold by Cenco Instrumenten MU. N.V. and made in Breda, Netherlands. I bought it on eBay for <$200. It also has a DeKalb College
(Clarkston, GA) property tag on it. Cenco catalog no. is 70321; ser. no. is 100089.
It works well as verified with a dilute solution of table sugar (sucrose). So far I've not had any occaision to use it for determination of purity,
but that was my intention when I bought it in 2005. But I do enjoy just having it.
   
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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franklyn
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- N O T E -
If you downloaded the edition I posted before
get this one instead it's a better copy.
The microscope and its revelations - 8th ed , 1901
direct download _ 87 MB !
http://books.google.com/books/download/The_microscope_and_it...
This book is a bible on the use and technique of period microscopes as
the type depicted in this thread. There are at least 2 earlier editions
available 1891 , 1883 , http://books.google.com/books?id=8WkFAQAAIAAJ
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[Edited on 2-1-2010 by franklyn]
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franklyn
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A communication from Allan Wissner of www.antique-microscopes.com
The vast majority of the microscopes in my collection are in original,
unrestored, condition. As I think you already know, to do a correct
restoration is a difficult process. Yes, you want to avoid the "mirror
finish". I can recommend someone to you who can do a correct
restoration, however, the problem is that the cost for the restoration
will be many times the value of this microscope. I therefore would not
recommend you go this route. The money would be better spent buying
another which is already in good original condition. The reason that the
restoration will cost so much is the time involved. A skilled restorer
would need to completely dissemble the instrument, put the machining
lines back in using a lathe, etc., prepare a colored lacquer to match
the original, apply it to the hot brass, and reassemble. Other parts
will need to be blackened (stage surface) using the correct chemical
formula and, finally, some parts may need to be nickel plated. You can
now imagine the number of hours (and great skills) that will be needed
to do all of this. While I have had some restorations done, it was only
for very rare microscopes worth thousands of dollars.
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franklyn
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I just happened to find this interesting collection which are for sale
They are not priced so I suppose they expect you to make an offer
on what you like and best offer takes it I guess.
http://www.thegriffincollection.com/microscopes.html
There is much to be learned by the experiences of others in this endeavor.
This rather stunning seemingly peerless example , also had serious flaws.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artapr08/iw-leitzstativa...
Something to consider before venturing 3 or 4 thousand on a pig in a poke.
http://www.classicoptics.com/antiquemicroscopes/B%20and%20L/...
The much less elaborate model I just bought is nowhere near in as good condition
and will require a good amount of refurbisment to make it serviceable. But
what do you expect for $ 100.
This enthusiastic collector really went down the deep end.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artsep09/gjw-novice.html
Scroll down to the middle of the page and begin reading of his misadventures.
Some useful references on B & L 's
Year 1900 Bausch & Lomb catalog available here _
http://books.google.com/books/download/Microscopes_and_acces...
The 1911 catalog
http://www.classicoptics.com/free-manuals/Bausch%20and%20Lom...
You must see this , a really superb educational film on microscopy.
http://www.archive.org/download/imaging_a_hidden_world/imagi...
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[Edited on 8-1-2010 by franklyn]
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franklyn
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Oooh sold. An exceptional value $ 600 for a complete microscope of this age
in mint condition with travel case. If it was refurbished it is very nicely done.
http://www.fleaglass.com/index.php?a=2&b=1657
I'm saving the photos for reference
A German make not as pristene is available here _
http://www.kambeck.com/mic_m537.html 480 €uro
A manual on the B & L models and their use.
http://books.google.com/books/download/Manipulation_of_the_m...
A reference on other american makes
http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/micro/ammicro.htm
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[Edited on 13-1-2010 by franklyn]
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Vogelzang
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Check out these old instruments.
http://www.humboldt.edu/~scimus/index.shtml
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Vogelzang
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Microscopes and other optical instruments.
http://www.science-info.net/docs/
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franklyn
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I just acquired a " N E W " 1904 Bausch & Lomb for $ 250 !
It's exceedingly uncommon to chance upon an unused item
over a century old that can easily sell at rertail for 4 times
as much or more. The sellers pictures convey the remarkable
condition , except for a slight presence of mildew everything
is unblemished.
       
[Edited on 17-3-2011 by franklyn]
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franklyn
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franklyn
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Another really exceptional English made R & J Beck is going
for closer to it's worth _
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=22075...
Fancy high value items as this appear more often in much
better condition than the less elaborate ones.
       
Advice for buyers from the links provided by Vogelzang
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www...
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Arthur Dent
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Sweet! Awesome piece of equipment, it has this very elegant steampunk look (If you've seen the Hellboy movies, you know what I mean).
The only true antiques I own are some late 40's vintage VTVM and frequency generators, an old scope and a vacuum tube tester... all of which are fully
functional!
I bet these beautiful microscopes don't appear often in auction sites and stuff.
Robert
--- Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappa ---
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franklyn
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Eye Candy
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260889452196
   
   
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Endimion17
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franklyn, do you have any old Reichert microscopes? I've worked on several models. Lovely stuff.
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franklyn
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I own just the two B & L's that I posted about in this thread
German instrument makers were well ahead of the pack with what became the
standard form of the microscope " Continental " style introduced by Zeiss Jena
in the early 1880's. They all started to resemble each other after that.
http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/zeiss_8223.htm
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Magpie
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I have recently added a fine old instrument to my collection: a Bennert manometer. It came unfilled with mercury but I will take care of that soon.
It was made by the Scientific Glass Apparatus Co of Bloomfield, NJ. The cast iron stand was made by the Humbolt Mfg Co.
It's used for reading absolute pressures below about 100mmHg with an accuracy of +/- 2mmHg, and is considered a primary standard.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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dann2
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I once made a Mercury Manometer similar to this one. Just a glass tube in a wooden box with some graph paper behind the tube. But as soon as I
released the Vacuum suddenly it broke as the mercury slammed into the end of the tube.
Is there a constriction in that model or is it a rule that you MUST put pressure back into this type of instrument very slowly?
Cheers, Dann2
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Magpie
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Quote: Originally posted by dann2  |
Is there a constriction in that model or is it a rule that you MUST put pressure back into this type of instrument very slowly?
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There is a constriction, going from about ID=4mm to 2mm, in the very lower part of the U-tube. You can see it in the picture if you look closely.
Also, I think it's good practice to release the vacuum slowly.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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