Hello from North Carolina!
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:52 pm
Hello, My name is Jeff. I’m a newbie to microscopes and microscopy. I recently got into amateur mycology and realized a good quality compound microscope is needed for looking at spores and tissue samples when trying to identifying mushrooms to the species level.
After doing some online research, I decided a used microscope with a trinocular head (I want to take pictures) and viewing magnification of up to 1000x would fit my needs. I went the college surplus route via online auctions. After a few unsuccessful attempts bidding on Nikon and Olympus scopes, I ended up getting a duel head AO One-Ten series Microstar for my first microscope; one head was a trinocular, the other was a binocular. I don’t really need the binocular head or adapter, but now I have a spare head (with eye pieces). The microscope cost me $40, plus an additional $70 for pickup, packing and shipping.
I was a little nervous buying this way because it was an “As Is” purchase, and my decision was based on a few pictures and the description “was working when taken out of service”. However, I think it turned out to be a good deal. Although it didn’t come with a slide holder or 100x oil objective (I’ll look on ebay), everything appears to be intact and working.
To test the microscope, I set it up with the trinocular head. Then I did a mushroom spore print on a glass slide and placed it on the stage without a slide cover (I’m not sure how to create slides correctly). After cleaning the exterior of the eye pieces I was able to view spores going up to 400x pretty clearly. I did notice a lot of dust and a light haze inside the illumination path, so deep cleaning is probably in order; hopefully this is something I can do instead paying to have it serviced.
Now that I have a microscope to work with, I want to learn how to use and maintain it correctly. I also would like to set it up to measure spore size and capture images. It would be great if I could connect it directly to my laptop or phone for viewing, camera control, and storing pictures.
I’m still learning what the different components of a microscope are and what they do. To figure out what was included with my microscope purchase, I downloaded copies of the AO One-ten Sales Catalog, Reference Manual, Parts Manual and Service Manual. Then compared my microscope components to the components listed in the documents and compiled the following list.
My Microscope - AO One-Ten Microstar
Components List
Catalog # - Description/Option:
1111B - Dual Viewing Compact Head
1102 B - Binocular Head (part of 1111B)
1103 T - Trinocular Head
110 - Base Stand with Quintuple nose piece
1130A H In-base transformer and illuminator
1194 - ungraduated mechanical stage
Lenses
1017 - 4x N.A .12 Plan Achromatic
1021 - 10x N.A .25 Plan Achromatic
1022 - 20X N.A 0.5 Plan Achromatic
1023 - 40X N.A 0.60 Plan Achromatic
1016 - 50X N.A .80 Plan Achromatic with iris oil
Eye pieces:
180 - 10X W.F. Americote (for modes with Planachromatic Objectives) - 2 sets
Condenser and mounts:
1087 - Abbe Condenser, N. A. 1.25 for 4x through 100x with 1091
1091 - Auxiliary swing-in condenser X for 1087 and 1201
1092 - Condenser mount for 1087, 1087S, 1099, 1201, and 2110.
Polarizing accessories:
1152 - Analyzer Turret
1153 - Polarizer with Full wave retardation plate (for use with 1130 illuminator)
After doing some online research, I decided a used microscope with a trinocular head (I want to take pictures) and viewing magnification of up to 1000x would fit my needs. I went the college surplus route via online auctions. After a few unsuccessful attempts bidding on Nikon and Olympus scopes, I ended up getting a duel head AO One-Ten series Microstar for my first microscope; one head was a trinocular, the other was a binocular. I don’t really need the binocular head or adapter, but now I have a spare head (with eye pieces). The microscope cost me $40, plus an additional $70 for pickup, packing and shipping.
I was a little nervous buying this way because it was an “As Is” purchase, and my decision was based on a few pictures and the description “was working when taken out of service”. However, I think it turned out to be a good deal. Although it didn’t come with a slide holder or 100x oil objective (I’ll look on ebay), everything appears to be intact and working.
To test the microscope, I set it up with the trinocular head. Then I did a mushroom spore print on a glass slide and placed it on the stage without a slide cover (I’m not sure how to create slides correctly). After cleaning the exterior of the eye pieces I was able to view spores going up to 400x pretty clearly. I did notice a lot of dust and a light haze inside the illumination path, so deep cleaning is probably in order; hopefully this is something I can do instead paying to have it serviced.
Now that I have a microscope to work with, I want to learn how to use and maintain it correctly. I also would like to set it up to measure spore size and capture images. It would be great if I could connect it directly to my laptop or phone for viewing, camera control, and storing pictures.
I’m still learning what the different components of a microscope are and what they do. To figure out what was included with my microscope purchase, I downloaded copies of the AO One-ten Sales Catalog, Reference Manual, Parts Manual and Service Manual. Then compared my microscope components to the components listed in the documents and compiled the following list.
My Microscope - AO One-Ten Microstar
Components List
Catalog # - Description/Option:
1111B - Dual Viewing Compact Head
1102 B - Binocular Head (part of 1111B)
1103 T - Trinocular Head
110 - Base Stand with Quintuple nose piece
1130A H In-base transformer and illuminator
1194 - ungraduated mechanical stage
Lenses
1017 - 4x N.A .12 Plan Achromatic
1021 - 10x N.A .25 Plan Achromatic
1022 - 20X N.A 0.5 Plan Achromatic
1023 - 40X N.A 0.60 Plan Achromatic
1016 - 50X N.A .80 Plan Achromatic with iris oil
Eye pieces:
180 - 10X W.F. Americote (for modes with Planachromatic Objectives) - 2 sets
Condenser and mounts:
1087 - Abbe Condenser, N. A. 1.25 for 4x through 100x with 1091
1091 - Auxiliary swing-in condenser X for 1087 and 1201
1092 - Condenser mount for 1087, 1087S, 1099, 1201, and 2110.
Polarizing accessories:
1152 - Analyzer Turret
1153 - Polarizer with Full wave retardation plate (for use with 1130 illuminator)
