Flipping binocular head- Zeiss

[wstenberg]

OK, I moved the binocular head from one microscope to another. Now it's upside down. I known I have seen this exact head mounted facing the other way- so there should be a way to spin it on its axis. Has anyone ever done this before? I tried loosening the three tiny screws- nothing loosened up... Could be that's the wrong approach, or it's old and frozen in place... Any assistance appreciated!

William

[JimT]

Maybe a dumb question but can't you remove it, reverse it, and put it back?

If you have posted more about this project and I missed it I apologize.

Maybe more details now that you have hit a snag. Lots more knowledgeable members can probably help.

[Charles]

Jim is correct. Just loosen the securing knob on the left and turn the whole binocular unit 180 degrees, but, that binocular head seems to be in the proper position. The other heads made for the smaller standards do need to be used upside down. Which way you orientate the head depends on the way the eyepieces will point and you want the eyepieces pointing up.

[wstenberg]

OK, Thanks. Let me post two more photos to better illustrate my problem here. No matter which way I turn the assembly, the "V" of the binocular is facing down instead of up. The binocular needs to spin on the little angled connector (sorry I don't know the name of this piece).

[wstenberg]

One more photo showing the assembly.

[zzffnn]

One more photo showing the assembly.

If this Zeiss West head assembly is similar to Aus Jena head, then the dovetail part (which should contain a angled prism) on right side of your photo 0097 should face down (instead of facing up as shown in the photo).

You may be able to disconnect the bino eye tubes (at left side of the photo) from that dovetail part. Sometimes, screws were glued in or too rusted to turn. WD40 should help with rust and xylene removes glue, but don't put too much so it drips into internal glass / prisms.

To he sure, please wait for a Zeiss West owner (75RR, Octagon or Charles) to comment. I do not own Zeiss gears.

[Charles]

That binocular head is designed to be used on the large Universals and Photomicroscopes and not the smaller standards.

[wstenberg]

Thanks. Indeed, it came off a Universal.
I see now that this has a "9902", and the same head on the smaller microscopes has a "9901". They seem to be preordained at the factory for their ultimate fate, as either for a Standard or a Universal.

[75RR]

That type of head is designed to connect to a vertical face, one can use them on a standard when connected to a cube which is itself connected to the horizontal face.

[wstenberg]

Thanks, I'll watch for one of those cubes!