I’m not sure this is a microscope....

This is the place where collectors can discuss their passion.
Post Reply
Message
Author
MFeely
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:39 am

I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#1 Post by MFeely » Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:35 am

Although I use a microscope everyday as a surgical pathologist (Olympus BX43) I actually have a question regarding something my father bought at an estate sale thinking I might be interested in it. The markings read “Carl Zeiss, Jena, Nr. 2116”. Although part of it does resemble a microscope, it also has a weighted pulley system.

Does anybody know what this might be? I’ve been searching the internet for awhile and have come up empty handed. I figured microscope or not, you guys might be able to guide me in the right direction.

Thanks.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

MichaelG.
Posts: 3976
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#2 Post by MichaelG. » Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:01 am

MFeely wrote:Although I use a microscope everyday as a surgical pathologist (Olympus BX43) I actually have a question regarding something my father bought at an estate sale thinking I might be interested in it. The markings read “Carl Zeiss, Jena, Nr. 2116”. Although part of it does resemble a microscope, it also has a weighted pulley system.

Does anybody know what this might be? I’ve been searching the internet for awhile and have come up empty handed. I figured microscope or not, you guys might be able to guide me in the right direction.

Thanks.
Sounds interesting: But unfortunately your images are not viewable
... Held hostage by Photobucket:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/354711/photo ... e-internet

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

MFeely
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:39 am

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#3 Post by MFeely » Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:40 am

Well that’s unfortunate. It’s been awhile since I posted in a forum and I didn’t realize that had happened. I attempted to resize my photos and attach them directly.
Attachments
9BCCB2C8-1C27-40B7-8AB1-F0D0CD4865F3.jpeg
9BCCB2C8-1C27-40B7-8AB1-F0D0CD4865F3.jpeg (114.67 KiB) Viewed 8395 times
A5AB9E43-7571-47EB-89AA-64044DACE676.jpeg
A5AB9E43-7571-47EB-89AA-64044DACE676.jpeg (147.13 KiB) Viewed 8395 times
60A0C240-6087-40CB-A34A-CABCCB88D4DD.jpeg
60A0C240-6087-40CB-A34A-CABCCB88D4DD.jpeg (150.62 KiB) Viewed 8395 times
7664A0AE-8FA5-4768-8554-2214FCE50A36.jpeg
7664A0AE-8FA5-4768-8554-2214FCE50A36.jpeg (112.35 KiB) Viewed 8395 times
8C3E072E-542D-4A07-A2D9-E6B54121AB6D.jpeg
8C3E072E-542D-4A07-A2D9-E6B54121AB6D.jpeg (151.25 KiB) Viewed 8395 times

MichaelG.
Posts: 3976
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#4 Post by MichaelG. » Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:44 pm

Thanks for the images

I don't immediately recognise it, but there is perhaps a 'distant memory' of seeing something similar.
... I may be back.

MichaelG.
.
Edit: Have a look at this PDF ... page 113 et seq.
http://www.science-info.net/docs/zeiss/ ... 931902.pdf
... nothing identical, but I think we are getting close.
Too many 'projects'

MicroBob
Posts: 3154
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 9:11 am
Location: Northern Germany

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#5 Post by MicroBob » Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:10 pm

Hi Michael,
when you look into the eyepiece at the side what do you see? It's tube is pointed to the central element of the instument. A scale? A thermometer?

Bob

MFeely
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:39 am

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#6 Post by MFeely » Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:15 am

Now we’re onto something. Thanks a lot Michael. Perhaps this is a precise measuring instrument.

Bob- When you look into the eyepiece you do see the central element. This core moves up and down and you can see the movement through the eyepiece. The view through the eyepiece also displays two closely spaced parallel lines (see picture below). The view also changes when you rotate the dial on top of the eyepiece, which interestingly has upside down numerical values on it (illustrated in the first photo above).
Attachments
C4E14F0A-299D-42C1-A4F8-D3FFAEC401F0.jpeg
C4E14F0A-299D-42C1-A4F8-D3FFAEC401F0.jpeg (122.39 KiB) Viewed 8354 times

Micro-Bob
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 12:18 pm

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#7 Post by Micro-Bob » Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:38 pm

You could look for this instrument here:
http://www.mikroskop-online.de/Zeiss%20 ... eraete.htm

Hobbyst46
Posts: 4277
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:02 pm

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#8 Post by Hobbyst46 » Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:45 pm

To me it reminds a measuring telescope. Many years ago, to check the level of a liquid in a presicion thermometer for example, a telescope was used. It was horizontal on a stand on the lab floor. Though I cannot say what exactly this is.

MFeely
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:39 am

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#9 Post by MFeely » Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:22 pm

Mystery solved. I contacted the Carl Zeiss archives and they were able to tell me it is an Abbe spherometer from 1906. It’s used for measuring lenses, commonly in the optical setting.

Thanks for everyone’s help.

Here’s a link they provided:

http://www.musoptin.com/item/sphaeromet ... 1312-1901/

MFeely
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:39 am

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#10 Post by MFeely » Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:32 pm

One more interesting bit of follow-up, this specific instrument was shipped to the Spencer Lens Company of Buffalo who actually made microscopes. I had the right forum after all!

MichaelG.
Posts: 3976
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#11 Post by MichaelG. » Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:19 pm

MFeely wrote:Mystery solved. I contacted the Carl Zeiss archives and they were able to tell me it is an Abbe spherometer from 1906.
Excellent result ... Thanks for sharing the link.

MichaelG.
.
PostScript: There is a description, and a helpful diagram of the device on p365 of this book:
https://ia800704.us.archive.org/25/item ... Optics.pdf
Too many 'projects'

MichaelG.
Posts: 3976
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#12 Post by MichaelG. » Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:30 am

MFeely wrote:The view also changes when you rotate the dial on top of the eyepiece, which interestingly has upside down numerical values on it (illustrated in the first photo above).
It's probably obvious by now, but ... As photographed, the microscope is upside down; you need to rotate it 180° to put the dial on the underside.

MichaelG. [getting rather envious]
Too many 'projects'

MFeely
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:39 am

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#13 Post by MFeely » Fri Feb 02, 2018 2:15 pm

Thanks for the link Michael. I think I'll have to print a copy of all of these findings and file them away. It's great to read an explanation of how this thing actually worked as I hadn't come across that yet. Unfortunately, it looks like my example is also missing the top ring just as the example from Zeiss is so I won't be measuring any lenses any time soon...

Yes, I immediately rotated the dial so that it was attached to the microscope from the underside as show in the link from the Zeiss archives. I did wonder though if perhaps someone at Spencer Lens Co. just found it easier to work with with the dial rotated to the top. I guess I'll never know.

This has been fantastic as like I mentioned I use a microscope everyday for work but didn't know much about the history. To find that this thing was used in my hometown at a prominent institution of microscope history here in the USA has been very fascinating. Now I just need to get my hands on a Spence Lens Co. microscope from that period to complete the story.

MichaelG.
Posts: 3976
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:24 am
Location: North Wales

Re: I’m not sure this is a microscope....

#14 Post by MichaelG. » Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:34 pm

A small favour, if I may ...
Could you please let me know the diameter of the top plate, and the weight of the weight.

Thanks
MichaelG
Too many 'projects'

Post Reply