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Total Novice from Colorado

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Total Novice from Colorado

August 1, 2011
21:46

guitorganist

Guest

Hi everyone -

My name is David – I'm a 47 year old IT admin and church musician from Northern Colorado.

I haven't done anything with microscopes since I was in a college Microbiology class in 1983, but as a teenager I really was fascinated with microscopy. I had a few "toy" microscopes, and examined as many things as I could. I even remember building a microscope project for which I found plans somewhere; it had a small C-shaped body made of wood, and a single lens which was obtained by carefully breaking out the tip of a magnifying flashlight bulb, then epoxying it into a strip of metal which was then fastened down at one end, with a screw lifting up the assembly from underneath as a focusing mechanism. I believe that magnified about 30-40x and proved more useful than the "toy" models that I had back then, enabling me to study some Protozoa.

Anyway, I recently obtained an old 1960's or 70's school-grade microscope from a garage sale, and have begun doing some research to prepare picking up the hobby again. The Microbe Hunter has been by far the most interesting and useful site I've found so far. Thanks for producing and contributing to it! I'm looking forward to being part of the community.

Thanks, David

August 2, 2011
00:06

huyzer

Member

Forum Posts: 53

Member Since:
June 10, 2011

Offline

Hello David,

Welcome. I love Microbe Hunter. See you around.

Take care,
Huy

guitorganist said:

Hi everyone -

I'm looking forward to being part of the community.

Thanks, David

August 4, 2011
21:13

Oliver

Admin

Forum Posts: 156

Member Since:
September 19, 2010

Offline

David,

also a welcome from me!

Anyway, I recently obtained an old 1960's or 70's school-grade microscope from a garage sale, and have begun doing some research to prepare picking up the hobby again.

There is a good book that I can recommend. Not cheap, unfortunately, but probably one of the best books both for beginnes and the more experienced. It seems to be out of print, but there are second hand copies available.

Exploring with the Micrscope by Werner Nachtigall.

Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Explorin…..038;sr=8-1

Oliver.

http://www.microbehunter.com – Oliver Kim Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination. (Bertrand Russell)

August 7, 2011
19:01

Lance

Member

Forum Posts: 11

Member Since:
December 23, 2010

Offline

David, good to hear from a fellow Coloradian, I'm located south of you in Colorado Springs…. Reading your intro reminds me how similar my journey into microscopes and the worlds they reveal replicates yours… I particularly enjoy protozoa and rotifers…..

My library contains several excellent books on protozoology…. If you need any of your discoveries identified send me a note and I will give it a shot, however, as you probably have already discovered IDing a protozoa is not easy….

I can be reached at lcarter98@comcast.net

Lance

guitorganist said:

Hi everyone -

My name is David – I'm a 47 year old IT admin and church musician from Northern Colorado.

I haven't done anything with microscopes since I was in a college Microbiology class in 1983, but as a teenager I really was fascinated with microscopy. I had a few "toy" microscopes, and examined as many things as I could. I even remember building a microscope project for which I found plans somewhere; it had a small C-shaped body made of wood, and a single lens which was obtained by carefully breaking out the tip of a magnifying flashlight bulb, then epoxying it into a strip of metal which was then fastened down at one end, with a screw lifting up the assembly from underneath as a focusing mechanism. I believe that magnified about 30-40x and proved more useful than the "toy" models that I had back then, enabling me to study some Protozoa.

Anyway, I recently obtained an old 1960's or 70's school-grade microscope from a garage sale, and have begun doing some research to prepare picking up the hobby again. The Microbe Hunter has been by far the most interesting and useful site I've found so far. Thanks for producing and contributing to it! I'm looking forward to being part of the community.

Thanks, David