Search found 155 matches

by apatientspider
Sat Nov 30, 2019 5:23 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: When You're Hot, You're Hot. Looky Here What I Got!
Replies: 7
Views: 6071

Re: When You're Hot, You're Hot. Looky Here What I Got!

Thanks, Phil. Yes, I'd appreciate the measurements for the photo tube. According to the old catalogs over on Neeley's site,https://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/Microscope.htm this is most likely a Microstar #2. But aside from optics it isn't much different than the Apostar or the Phasestar. ...
by apatientspider
Sat Nov 30, 2019 4:39 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: When You're Hot, You're Hot. Looky Here What I Got!
Replies: 7
Views: 6071

Re: When You're Hot, You're Hot. Looky Here What I Got!

Thanks, Kurt. Aside from battling ailments that sometimes occur in one's later years, I've not been doing much of anything. Been watching Youtube a lot and surfing the internet. I've picked up some nice things off Ebay recently, but most of them were not cheap. This scope is the first bargain I've c...
by apatientspider
Fri Nov 29, 2019 3:47 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: When You're Hot, You're Hot. Looky Here What I Got!
Replies: 7
Views: 6071

When You're Hot, You're Hot. Looky Here What I Got!

I was cruising Ebay last evening and happened across this old Spencer #2. Prior to this I had only ever owned or used black beauties - usually older Spencers - but for the last several years I've been thinking how nice and convenient it would be to own something with a trinocular head for ease in mo...
by apatientspider
Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:32 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: My new Microscope
Replies: 14
Views: 11737

Re: My new Microscope

Congrats! That's a pretty scope. The two items you found in the box: the plastic sheath is a cover for the box key. The metal triangular thing - if not an odd shaped key - is probably a screwdriver of sorts. Microscopes are often held in by a screw or bolt coming up through the bottom of the case. Jim
by apatientspider
Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:34 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Further tests with repaired Spencer 1.4 N.A. objective.
Replies: 3
Views: 2900

Re: Further tests with repaired Spencer 1.4 N.A. objective.

Maybe it's just my old eyes, but in most "un-helped" photos of diatoms the little dots never appear very sharply focused to me. However, I think these images of a diatom taken through the repaired objective are at least as good as any simple brightfield images of diatoms I've ever seen posted on the...
by apatientspider
Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:42 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Repair of an old 1.4 N.A. oil immersion objective; with objective view, now.
Replies: 15
Views: 6320

Re: Repair of an old 1.4 N.A. oil immersion objective; with objective view, now.

Hi, Phil: Very nice work! Though I was eagerly awaiting these photos, I've held off commenting on them until I could study them carefully and train my eyes a bit by considering things pointed out by others. I don't always know exactly what to look for in image quality as you more experienced guys do...
by apatientspider
Sat Feb 23, 2019 3:16 am
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Three B&L “Model” microscopes UPDATE
Replies: 6
Views: 7975

Re: Three B&L “Model” microscopes

Beautiful! Do the lenses still produce acceptable images after all this time?

Jim
by apatientspider
Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:10 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Repair of an old 1.4 N.A. oil immersion objective; with objective view, now.
Replies: 15
Views: 6320

Re: Repair of an old 1.4 N.A. oil immersion objective.

....It seems, that at the point the cone of light is passing through that smear of wonky cement in that triplet( I think it is the first joint), that the image circle is just a fraction inside the de-lamination zone. Clever of them to make a lens that de-laminated from the outside in concentrically...
by apatientspider
Sun Jan 27, 2019 5:48 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Older B&L microscope question
Replies: 48
Views: 19475

Re: Older B&L microscope question

That is a classic Dynoptic from about 1960, and you are very fortunate to have one with the trinocular head; that is unusual. I have the binocular model. Most of my scopes are old black beauty Spencers or American Opticals, but I do own one of these Bausch and Lomb lab scopes. It was or is a great m...
by apatientspider
Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:13 pm
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Antique Spencer Lens Company 4mm Apo N.A. 0.95 Objective
Replies: 8
Views: 8780

Re: Antique Spencer Lens Company 4mm Apo N.A. 0.95 Objective

For those of you who own a similar objective, how would it compare to more modern 40x finite objectives? Say, for example, an Olympus 40x SPlan at .70NA?? Or a Nikon 40x Fluar at .75NA? I know the the newer objectives would have a much wider fields (around 26mm). Much higher contrast as well? Does ...
by apatientspider
Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:51 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: SOLD Vintage AO/Spencer Scope, 15 series 4 objectives, no lighting
Replies: 6
Views: 4499

Re: Vintage AO/Spencer Scope, 15 series 4 objectives, no lighting

Would the microscope slide over the business end of an A/O Ortho illuminator? There's one up at Ebay now, item 163474212736. Mine does! But if you'd rather use a mirror and separate lamp, a mirror is usually easy to find for $30 or less. Depending on the model, figure an adequate separate lamp for ...
by apatientspider
Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:59 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Help identifying this objective
Replies: 6
Views: 3994

Re: Help identifying this objective

Judging by the apparent diameter of the front lens element, I would guess it is somewhere between a 5x and 10x - probably a 10x. But other than that, I've no idea.

Jim
by apatientspider
Sat Oct 27, 2018 12:43 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Bausch&Lomb PR-27 microscopy lamp with ribbon filament lamp
Replies: 29
Views: 14427

Re: Bausch&Lomb PR-27 microscopy lamp with ribbon filament lamp

Mazda along with Gem was an old General Electric trademark according to info posted at Steve Neeley's site. https://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/Bulbs.htm and scroll down. Unfortunately the link he posts to Don's Bulbs and the 1914 catalog is no longer good. To my knowledge these ribbon fil...
by apatientspider
Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:10 am
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Still expanding my AO collection - with questions about parts...
Replies: 16
Views: 10498

Re: Still expanding my AO collection - with questions about parts...

Hi Jim, up to which thickness of glass does this work? Bob Hi, Bob: I've used the technique on ordinary window pane glass. 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch or so? It might work on 1/4 inch, but heavier metal cutting snips with more leverage would be needed, I should think. Also, I doubt that one could cut al...
by apatientspider
Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:19 am
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Still expanding my AO collection - with questions about parts...
Replies: 16
Views: 10498

Re: Still expanding my AO collection - with questions about parts...

Believe it or not, but thin plate glass can be cut or nibbled away to a line with either metal cutting tin snips or heavy sewing scissors - if everything is submerged under water. The rough edge can also be smoothed with a coarse file in the same way.

Jim
by apatientspider
Wed Mar 14, 2018 10:43 am
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: Very fine Spencer # 5 for sale on ebay.
Replies: 3
Views: 2825

Re: Very fine Spencer # 5 for sale on ebay.

Well that one didn't last long! Pretty piece and a bit more than all there for a change. i wonder what the original owner wanted the 30x eyepieces for? The price is not a bad one, too - for either buyer and or seller. Well it isn't, if the optics - especially the objectives - are all still in good s...
by apatientspider
Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:01 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: AO Series 4 Accidental buy...
Replies: 29
Views: 10185

Re: AO Series 4 Accidental buy...

PS Neeley's site is the definitive source on the web for all things American Optical and Spencer. Visit https://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/Microscope.htm and scroll down to items #8, 9, and 10 for downloadable copies of catalogs dealing with the series 2 and 4 models of AO's microscopes. A...
by apatientspider
Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:20 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Question about Objectives (B&L)
Replies: 17
Views: 7998

Re: Question about Objectives (B&L)

I use several stereo zoom scopes in my work and I understand how those optics work. I recently purchased a B&L centering scope (for lining up work in machines) and the objective is marked 32mm .01. This gives me a very short working distance (maybe 5mm) which is good for some setups, but I would li...
by apatientspider
Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:25 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Seeking AO/American Optical experts advice
Replies: 4
Views: 3191

Re: Seeking AO/American Optical experts advice

For about twenty years, I've been regretting NOT adopting a pile of old American Optical "group" microscope illuminators. I've tried to find out what the catalog number for these was and turn up nuthin' - they would make great desk lamps. I used to work as a supervisor for the general biology secti...
by apatientspider
Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:12 am
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Question for B&L collectors
Replies: 9
Views: 6213

Re: Question for B&L collectors

I'm not a collector and I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as Phil is, but I too have never seen that particular style of binocular head on anything but the Bausch and Lomb Dynoptics. Their earlier binocular scopes - I don't know the model name - had binocular heads with flatter, more angular surface...
by apatientspider
Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:03 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: AO objectives and cover slip thickness
Replies: 4
Views: 3459

Re: AO objectives and cover slip thickness

I don't own any of the infinity corrected microscopes, but.... Out of curiosity I skimmed through the manuals for the AO #10 and AO #20 - both of which used infinity corrected optics. Even as late as that their objectives were still being corrected for 0.18 mm thick coverglasses. Look on page 5, jus...
by apatientspider
Sat Sep 30, 2017 12:26 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: AO objectives and cover slip thickness
Replies: 4
Views: 3459

Re: AO objectives and cover slip thickness

Spencer and American Optical objectives were corrected for a 0.18 cover slip thickness at least up until they switched from a 160 mm tube length to infinity correction - according to their literature anyway. Not sure what thickness later objectives were corrected for.

Jim
by apatientspider
Wed Sep 27, 2017 9:17 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Unable to get focus on field diaphragm by moving condenser
Replies: 7
Views: 5593

Re: Unable to get focus on field diaphragm by moving condenser

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for that post, Phil! It certainly clears up some puzzles and confirms a few suppositions of my own. Why couldn't American Optical have explicitly included all this information in one spot, in one of its manuals or catalogs over the years? Would have been extremely hel...
by apatientspider
Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:03 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Teeth of leech
Replies: 5
Views: 3234

Re: Teeth of leech

apochronaut wrote:Some of those old slides are quite unique. They picked out odd subjects, some of which are fascinating and useful.
I've seen leech teeth before though..... some of our finest, seem to posses them.
Uh,....would those be fine Canadian leeches, or fine U.S. leeches? Or both? :lol:

anon.
by apatientspider
Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:24 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Unable to get focus on field diaphragm by moving condenser
Replies: 7
Views: 5593

Re: Unable to get focus on field diaphragm by moving condenser

Hello: I own neither a series 10 nor a series 20 scope, but I do own a cat. #1084 condenser. I purchased it some time ago to use on my old black beauty series 15 microscope. It fit the yoke of my model, but I experienced the same problem you are having. I couldn't get a sharp focus of the field iris...
by apatientspider
Sat Sep 23, 2017 2:42 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: Wanted Dark Field Condenser for AO Spencer 15/35 214F or 218F
Replies: 5
Views: 3644

Re: Wanted Dark Field Condenser for AO Spencer 15/35 214F or 218F

I need a darkfield condenser for my scope. It is from about 1950 and I think is a type 15. I have a condenser but the dovetail is too small for my mount. If anyone knows how to swap for the right dovetail, that would work too. Thanks Hi, The dovetail rings on many of AO/Spencer's darkfield condense...
by apatientspider
Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:55 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: 190 mm tube length objectives on a 160 mm tube length instrument?
Replies: 12
Views: 7594

Re: 190 mm tube length objectives on a 160 mm tube length instrument?

Fan, Thanks to both you and Phil - your answers help considerably. I have a full complement of AO/Spencer compens eyepieces for my Spencer research #5 now, so I should probably just take the time to gather everything together and do some further comparing. But now I'll know better what to look for. ...
by apatientspider
Thu Sep 21, 2017 4:02 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: 190 mm tube length objectives on a 160 mm tube length instrument?
Replies: 12
Views: 7594

Re: 190 mm tube length objectives on a 160 mm tube length instrument?

You will probably find that you need Lomo or Zeiss Jena compensating eyepieces for those Lomo apochromats......... With older apochromats you will get adverse chromatic aberration when using most eyepieces not designed for the specific combination but accidents can happen. I came across a no-name 5...
by apatientspider
Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:56 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Dreary Day Diatom Dotting
Replies: 11
Views: 4979

Re: Dreary Day Diatom Dotting

We had a few rainy days here a couple weeks ago, so I got in a little lab time while stuck in the house. Hmm. I think I'll nominate Kurt for the title of Master of the Understatement. A few rainy days, indeed! But to cases: I personally like the second image best. To my eyes it looks sharper and le...
by apatientspider
Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:29 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Members from the Houston area.
Replies: 8
Views: 6042

Re: Members from the Houston area.

Thank you, Phil. I am safe and dry. Kurt was fine as of Sunday afternoon. He had good preparation for everything at the time. I wonder if Bill and Jim are fine. Thanks for the thought, Fan. Yes, I am fine up where I am, about twenty five miles northwest of Houston city limits. Got lots and lots of ...