microscope

Object NameDrawtube Microscope

Made FromGlass, Wood, Paperl, Mercury-Tin Amalgam Mirror

Date1775-1799

Techniquepolished, turned and assembled

Accession Number58.7.4

Credit LineGift of C. A. Mowrey

Curatorial Area(s)

Place Made

Germany, probably Nuremberg

Physical DescriptionTan non-lead glass, wood, paper; mirror glass; polished lenses; turned and assembled wood. (a) Rectangular box, with flat, rectangular faces, forming the bottom; one face with large opening of rectangular shape, with rounded arcs above and below; two opposing faces with small rectangular slots, and with turned disks operating (turning) a mirror inside the box; the back face plane; the small, flat mirror housed in a turned wood frame; a three-part, telescoping tube mounted on top of the box, on a flat board with molded rim; the tube of cardboard, with printed paper covers, the top and center parts with printed stain-step geometric pattern in orange and blue, the lower section covered with embossed dots; the sections with turned wood angular collars with knurled rims and incised lines; threaded section at the top for an eyepiece cover (b) and cap (c), holding a convex glass lens; at the bottom of the tube, and projecting inside the rectangular box, a tapered, turned wood funnel holding a small convex glass lens at the tip; threaded section at the end of the wood funnel, for a cap (d); flat, square base, with molded rim; burned inscription "1M" within a ring of dots; inscribed in faded brown ink "6/ " and indecipherable letters; (b) turned wood eyepiece cover, with concave top, turned screw threading for a cap (c) on a short, tubular section, above a turned molded section, and threaded inside to fit the screw threading on (a); (c) turned wood cap, to fit the threading on top of (b) with incised rings on top, knurled rim; sloping sides with incised lines; hollowed inside, with screw threads; (d) small, turned, conical cap, with knurled rim; hollow inside, with threading, to fit over the end of the turned wood funnel in the rectangular box of (a).
Provenance

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