ARNOLD & SONS LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS MONOCULAR BAR-LIMB UNIVERSITY MICROSCOPE 1880 For Sale

Payment | ShippingARNOLD & SONS LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS MONOCULAR BAR-LIMB UNIVERSITY MICROSCOPE 1880
ARNOLD & SONS LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS BAR-LIMB MONOCULAR "UNIVERSITY MICROSCOPE" WITH BULLSEYE CONDENSER STAND - CIRCA 1880You are invited to purchase a very nice antique brass monocular compound bar-limb microscope. This instrument is unsigned, but is clearly an instrument sold by Arnold & Sons of London, England and named "The University Microscope." It most likely dates from circa 1880.Included with the microscope itself is a nice antique brass Bullseye Condenser Stand that was customarily included as one of the accessories with this microscope model. There is no wood case and no other accessories are included.
Note: For a brief history of the bar-limb microscope design, please see below.Additional Note: This microscope formerly had a brass plaque mechanically fastened to the top rear of the stand that indicated that it was offered by Arnold & Sons of London. However, this brass plaque is now missing from this microscope, but the points of former attachment (two threaded holes) are still visible on the rear of the instrument (See images). On the other hand, there is what appears to be a customary serial number engraved into the rear of the stage plate, "675" (See close-up image that shows this).
Arnold & Sonsretailed this model instrument as their microscope stand No. 3 as featured in their 1873 edition of their catalogue entitled, "A Catalogue Of Surgical Instruments Manufactured And Sold By Arnold And Sons, 35 & 36 West Smithfield, London." Includedwith this listing is a copy of the title page of the 1873 catalogue, a cut from the 1873 catalogue (page 181) that shows an engraving of the microscope along with a description of this instrument, and an enlargement of the featured engraving of this microscope model. The exact similarities of the University Microscope as featured in the Arnold & Sons catalogue to the instrument featured here are readily apparent.
Note: For a brief history of the Arnold & Sons Company of London, please see below.
This antique brass microscope by Arnold & Sons of London will make a very nice addition to any antique microscope collection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: This instrument is built upon an iconic "English or Crouch foot," named as such because it was first invented by the English microscope maker, Henry Crouch. Rising from each side of the foot are dual trunnion plates that terminate in a trunnion joint formed in part by internally threaded brass tabs found on either side of the stage plate, that extend downward from the underside of therear portion of the stage plate and are mechanically attached to the tops of the trunnion plates with threaded screws. Thus, the rest of the instrument is supported by this joint. This joint also allows the microscope to be tilted to various angles from the vertical to permit the comfortable viewing of slides mounted atop the stage.
The center of the rear stage plate at the trunnion joint has a 21mm diameter opening. Passing through this opening from the topside is the upper portion of the microscope that includes the coarse focus gearbox. On the underside of the gearbox is a 10mm long by 20mm diameter solid brass extension with a male thread on the circumference. Screwed onto this threaded brass extension from below the stage is a 20mm diameter hollow brass cylinder with an internal female thread at its top. This cylinder extends downward from the stage and mechanically fixes both the cylinder itself and the entire upper portion of the microscope to the rear of the stage plate.
Moving within the substage hollow cylinder or lower limb is a solid brass triangular bar with horizontal rack work inset into the rear apex of the bar (See the accompanying close-up image that shows this). This triangular bar passes through the coarse focus gearbox, which controls the coarse focus of the microscope by rack and pinion using a pair of oversized brass milled heads found on either side of the microscope.
At the top of the portion of the triangular brass bar that extends above the stage is an 80mm long solid brass bar-limb that is mechanically attached to the triangular brass bar and extends forward over the stage. The semi-circular distal end of the limb is internally threaded allowing the lower end of the body tube of the microscope to be threaded therein.
The 190 mm long by 30 mm diameter body tube of the microscope does not include a conventional drawtube. Inserted into the top of the body tube is a long barreled eyepiece (unmarked as to power). At the lower end of the body tube is a moveable internally spring loaded brass sleeve with internal female RMS treads. A single unmarked multipart objective lens equipped with male RMS threads is threaded into the distal end of this brass sleeve. This objective lens has two lower optical segments that can be removed (unscrewed) from the lens body to provide three different magnifications as is noted in the catalogue description of the microscope: 1/4-inch with all elements installed, 1/2-inch with the lower element removed and 1-inch with both of the lower elements removed from the objective lens (See the accompanying image that shows the multipart objective lens). Fine focus is afforded by a lever system with micrometer screw found at the rear of the body tube just above the bar-limb.The forward portion of the stage plate, which is attached at the trunnion joint as described previously, forms an 80mm diameter round stage with a central 25mm aperture along with two (2) 20mm x 20mm square holes on either side of the stage (See image of the underside of the stage). Mounted atop the stage is a brass slide carrier that features brass control handles on either side and a single slide retaining clip. The slide carrier also has a 25mm central aperture to match that of the stage itself. Mechanically attached to both sides of the underside of the slide carrier are 50 mm long brass clips that extend over the undersides of the square holes in the stage and permit the slide carrier to smoothly move in any direction.
Note: The mounting method used for this slide carrier is quite innovative and unique. I have not seen it on any other antique brass microscope.
Note: There is no condenser or disc of apertures under the stage although there is provision to add such as an accessory (Not included with this instrument).
At the lower end of the hollow cylindrical limb found below the stage is a single sided 50 mm diameter yoke mounted concave mirror in a brass mount that can be adjusted to various distances from and angles to the stage by a sliding brass sleeve attached to the yoke mirror mount.When the microscope limb stands vertical, and the body tube is fully racked out to its highest position, the microscope stands about 15.5 inches tall. When the body tube is racked down to it lowest position, e.g., for when it is used for observations with the provided objective lens, the microscope stands about 13.5 inches tall. The microscope weighs about 4 pounds.
Brass Bullseye Condenser Stand:
Included with the microscope is a nice brass bullseye condenser on an adjustable brass stand and appears to be the same exact model as featured in the Arnold & Son catalogue description of this microscope. The condenser is adjustable in height from 6.5 inches to 9.5 inches and the lens can be moved laterally from side to side or its angle changed using the brass rod at the top of the stand. The lens is 40mm wide and is mounted in brass.
There is no wood case or any other accessories that accompany this microscope. STATEMENT OF CONDITION: NOTE: The accompanying images of this microscope that were captured under ambient light conditions are a part of this statement of condition. Please click on the images for a larger view. Please take the time to view all of the images so you can confirm the condition of the microscope and so you can see what you will be getting should you prove to be the fortunate new owner of this antique brass microscope. In summary, the condition of this antique microscope is very good to excellent. The brass work on the instrument shows some oxidation and spotty tarnish, which is to be expected of an instrument of this age, now some 146 years old and counting. I would estimate the original lacquer retention at less than 40%. Overall the instrument has a very nice honey-gold patina. The only treatment we have given this instrument was to clean it of dust and grime with Windex and then to give it a coat of Renaissance Wax to preserve it from further oxidation or tarnish. NOTE: WE MAKE IT A FIRM PRACTICE NOT TO DEEP CLEAN AND POLISH ANTIQUE BRASS MICROSCOPES. The eyepiece that comes with this instrument is free of any internal defects including fogging, fungus, delamination, chipping, cracks, etc. Likewise, the multipart objective lens is in very good condition and provides nice views at the eyepiece at all magnification levels. In proof thereof, I have included three images of a prepared slide of Polycystina Radiolaria fossils that I examined with this instrument. The first slide shows a grouping of Radiolaria with the objective lens set at 1/2-inch (lower element removed). The second image shows another grouping of Radiolaria at the same magnification, but under oblique light. The third and final image shows a single specimen with the objective lens set at 1/4-inch (all elements present). Images were exceptionally well resolved and of relatively high contrast for a microscope of its age.
The single sided concave mirror shows some surface imperfections and loss of silvering (See image), but still provides good illumination to the stage.Mechanically, the coarse focus mechanism on this microscope works smoothly and precisely. However, the control knobs show a slight warp when turned. The lever and screw fine focus mechanism works smoothly as designed with no hesitation or binding.
The brass bullseye condenser stand is in very good physical condition with some age tarnish present in concert with its age. The glass lens in clear with no optical defects evident.All in all, this is a very nice fully functional antique brass microscope that is certain to add interest and luster to any antique microscope collection. If one were just starting out to collect antique brass microscopes, this would be a good instrument with which to start such a collection. For the more advanced or veteran collector, its unique slide carrier design will be an attractive feature for consideration for inclusion in a more extensive instrument collection. ABOUT ARNOLD AND SONS:
James Arnold began his career as an instrument maker in London in 1829. By the year 1841, his company was known as James & John Arnold, Surgeon's Instrument Maker, located at 35 West Smithfield in London. In 1857, the name of the company changed to James Arnold & Sons.
Their first illustrated catalogue of goods was published in 1873 when the company was known simply as Arnold & Sons. At this time they were listed as surgical instrument makers by appointment to Her Majesty's Government, Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, The Great Northern Hospital, The Royal Veterinary College and the Seamen's Hospital. Their range of products also included microscopes & their related accessories. However, Bracegirdle indicates that the company likely sold microscopes made by others and did not manufacture them.
By the year 1882, they had greatly expanded their range of products. The company held premises on 31 West Smithfield along with 1-3 and 15-16 Giltspur Street, London. They also had a showroom located at 50-60 Wigmore Street, London.
In the 1920s, the company was incorporated into John Bell & Croydon, Ltd. and in 1928 the company was bought by Savory & Moore. In 1953, the company was renamed Arnold & Sons Veterinary Instruments, Ltd. in London and Arnold & Sons Basildon, Ltd. in Essex. The name changed again in 1985, when the firm became Arnold Surgical, Ltd.
The company was dissolved in 2004 thus ending a long career as an scientific instrument supplier that spanned parts of three centuries.ABOUT THE BAR-LIMB MICROSCOPE DESIGN:
This Arnold & Sons microscope reflects the popular English bar-limb design that was first introduced by the very talented microscope maker, Andrew Ross, in the year 1842. This design soon became THE standard for many British microscope makers throughout the second half of the 19th century. The British microscopes had long tubes and were based on the bar-limb concept generally having a Y-shaped foot or base holding an inclining linear tube or straight limb that held the mirror, stage, rack and pinion system for coarse focusing and, at the top, the forward directed "bar" that held the microscope's body tube itself conveniently over the center of the stage.
This design concept was maintained by most of the dominant microscope makers of the second half of the 19th century including Ross, Powell & Lealand, Dollond, Baker, Lawley, Steward, Casterelli, Pillischer and many others. Some conservative companies such as Powell & Lealand, continued the manufacture of bar-limb microscopes into the 20th century, long after the new improved continental design became popular and was adopted by most modernized British makers such as Watson, Swift & Son and others. PURCHASE: THE MONTANA LOGGER is very pleased to offer this antique brass monocular bar-limb University Microscope with Bullseye Condenser Stand as sold by Arnold & Sons of London, for a very reasonable Buy-It-Now cost. We will also entertain reasonable offers for this antique brass microscope from circa 1880. NOTE: WE WARMLY WELCOME INTERNATIONAL buyers / BUYERS. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE. PAYMENT: Payment is due within 3 days of purchase. Prompt payment is always very much appreciated. Thank you! PaymentBack to Top
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