Field Microscope Collection

[Tom Jones]

At the behest of Charlie G., who requested I post images of my field/portable microscope collection. Back in April Charlie sold me a very nice B&L Pocket 40 portable microscope, and I've been way too slow following up with an image and description.

So, from left to right:

Spindler & Hoyer Junior: http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/junior.htm
Chinese TWX-1: https://microscope-antiques.com/twx1.html http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artnov11/TWX-1.pdf
French No Name Drum or Barrel microscope
C. Baker Improved "Nature" Microscope: https://microscope-antiques.com/bakernature.html https://www.antiquemicroscopes.co.uk/m156.html
Bausch & Lomb Pocket 40 Microscope from Charlie G: https://microscope-antiques.com/blpocket.html http://www.antique-microscopes.com/phot ... scope.html
Hensoldt Wetzlar Tami: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ind ... /tami.html https://www.microscope-antiques.com/tamis.html
Hensoldt Wetzlar Metami: http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/metami.htm https://antiqueoptics.eu/home/landen/du ... i-protami/
Hensoldt Wetzlar Protami: http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/protami.htm
Hensoldt Wetzlar Tami: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -519998842 (This one is pretty rare and I can find very little information about it. It appears to be a newer version.)
Swift FM31-LWD with an original mechanical stage and holder for a small Maglight flashlight: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... _clone.pdf https://microscope-antiques.com/fm31.html

So far I've been too cheap to add a Nikon Model H. When I received the TWX-1 from China a couple of years ago, it smelled like cow urine when when I opened the package, and had a bit of corrosion. The seller, who did give me a partial refund so he wouldn't have to pay to ship it home, told me it had really been found in a field full of cattle...

The drum microscope optics are pretty rough, and the TWX-1 optics could be better, but all of the rest are in nice shape and produce good images.

[einman]

Very interesting collection!

[WWWW]

It is a very nice collection !

[Sure Squintsalot]

Can you get darkfield with any one of those?

[Tom Jones]

Only the Metami, Protami, Swift and TWX-1 have condensers. I suppose it's possible to set up darkfield, but there's not much room in any of them for a filter except the Swift. I haven't tried it though with any of them.

[josmann]

Oh this is really cool! Thank you for sharing!

What are your thoughts on the TWX-1? I see those from time to time on eBay.

[Tom Jones]

The TWX-1 is considered to be a very good folded-optic microscope. A main benefit is the upright positioning of the slide unlike the Swift and the rest of the McArthur clones, and good optical quality. But to be honest, I haven't spent much time using and comparing any of them. My favorite though, just for the design if nothing else, is probably the Protami.

[fero]

Amazing collection,
my TWX-1 s/n 700451 with all original papers is on its way from China, can not wait.
Hope I will have luck also with FM-31 some time.
Protami is amazing but it looks like it is impossible to buy,
Looking at all these it seems like people 100 years ago had better ideas than now.
Fero

[Tom Jones]

The Protami took more than two years to find. The Metami took even longer.

[charlie g]

Thank you so much, Tom, for fleshing out the histories of many of these 'field microscopes' in your collection ( I find my microscopes breed when not in use..or is it eBay/ bricks& mortar flea market-fever on my part?).

I have to ask you, Tom, and others to speculate on the 'field need/ the market need ' for these wonderful optical instruments. All please comment.

One in your collection is with an oil-immersion objective ( I think I noted a remark about a vial of immersion oil).

Why this drift to high-performance/ optical high specs in scopes to be used by whom...and in what circumstances?

Or are those sweet high-end field scopes similar in development to say 'Rolex wrist watches'....a cult device for oh so specific a purchaser?

Years ago from a forum: "Microscope" member, I purchased a wonderful meopta/PRAHA , Czechoslovakian : 'student field microscope...extremely functional for use on holiday far from home...in the holiday cottage ( or on a simple boat).

This obviously 'biology student microscope ' has 15X ocular, and 3.3X/ 6.7X/ 20X objectives...it is with sweet performance for evenings at the microscope while on holiday.

In view of need for microscope slides/ coverslips , cleaning alcohol bottle/ lens papers/ glass pipets to apply samples to microscope slides/ tweezers and blade to cut specimens to fit a glass slide, sample collection bottles and equipment....why the 'high end field microscopes' vrs taking a sturdy student stand to use at evening...or a quality but low cost 'biologic-student field microscope'...like the meopta.

Thanks for a great thread, Tom. charlie g

[Hobbyst46]

Same super durable, heavy round metal case as in the early Wild stereoscopes (M3 etc). Impressive.