Could someone discuss the evolution of the Olympus microscope line?
From the 40s onward through to the present.
I would be interested in hearing about the changes each Olympus model involved.
From non DIN to, 160mm to infinity optics, lighting differences, etc.
Thanks
Evolution of the Olympus microscope line
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Scarodactyl
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Re: Evolution of the Olympus microscope line
That sounds like a lot of work to ask from people. You can read about the basics here https://www.olympus-lifescience.com/en/ ... eum/micro/
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apochronaut
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Re: Evolution of the Olympus microscope line
If I recall Olympus , in their official history, brings up the M & Katera connection and the first mass produced microscope in Japan but in actual fact Olympus was a thermometer company by the name of Kogaku Kikai Sensakusho when that model was made by M & Katera, the direct corporate ancestor of Chiyoda Kogaku Kogyo or later to become Tiyoda. In fact , I believe Olympus manufactured the legendary anal thermometer the famous nurse found in her shirt pocket, realizing at that moment that some asshole had her pen.
Olympus added microscopes to their product lineup after the designer and original partner at M & Katera, Terada Shintar moved over to Olympus. Here is an old M & Katera thread.
viewtopic.php?t=1637
Corporations have a tendency to gloss over certain of their historical details, favouring instead to include the triumphant ones or those they want the customer to know.
It is doubtful that Olympus made their own optics in the developmental years, as evidenced by the extreme similarity between originally M & Katera objectives to those of Leitz and then later, Olympus objectives to those of Leitz. Both were 37mm parfocal. Mr. Terada had the relationship with Leitz and when he left M & Katera, by 1931 M & K had developed a relationshop with Reichert, producing the MKH portable microscope for the Japanese army. MKH stands for the M Katera Heimdal, marked made in Japan but almost for sure sporting Reichert lenses in Reichert clone barrels.The same was true at Olympus, just Leitz lenses in Leitz clone barrels.
Japan's industry was dominated by their ancient Zaibatsu system and the government gave great favour to the companies in the upper echelons of that system. Nippon Kogaku and Fuji were intimately integrated with the Japanese military and almost all of their research and production had funding from the top in aid of principally the navy. Optical glass of a grade sufficient to meet the demands of microscope designers did not exist until at least 1931 but it was almost entirely destined for military applications. Low light periscopes were a priority, using dozens and dozens of elements with reflective surfaces. Companies outside of the elite of the Zaibatsu generally did not benefit from the system. Kwanon( Canon) for instance had to go to Nippon Kogaku for ienses since they had a historical relationship with Schott and Zeiss, their primary supplier of refined optical glass. Lens production for almost anything outside of spectacles in Japan , was a military operation.
After W.W. II, Olympus had no access to Leitz but why would they change their parfocal length to the rather odd measure of 36 2/3 mm from 37mm? The answer is most assuredly that due to the U.S. occupation of Japan, dismantling of Zaibatsu and the U.S. control of the Japanese economy, they started buying lenses for installation in Olympus made barrels from Bausch & Lomb. A conversion from B & L's originally imperial measured objectives comes out to 36 2/3 mm or sometimes referred to as 36.65. It seems that at this point, Olympus was still not making their own glass or lenses.
It would be interesting to disassemble an early Olympus 36 .65mm objective and a contemporary B & L objective of the same class and see if the lenses are directly interchangeable.
Olympus added microscopes to their product lineup after the designer and original partner at M & Katera, Terada Shintar moved over to Olympus. Here is an old M & Katera thread.
viewtopic.php?t=1637
Corporations have a tendency to gloss over certain of their historical details, favouring instead to include the triumphant ones or those they want the customer to know.
It is doubtful that Olympus made their own optics in the developmental years, as evidenced by the extreme similarity between originally M & Katera objectives to those of Leitz and then later, Olympus objectives to those of Leitz. Both were 37mm parfocal. Mr. Terada had the relationship with Leitz and when he left M & Katera, by 1931 M & K had developed a relationshop with Reichert, producing the MKH portable microscope for the Japanese army. MKH stands for the M Katera Heimdal, marked made in Japan but almost for sure sporting Reichert lenses in Reichert clone barrels.The same was true at Olympus, just Leitz lenses in Leitz clone barrels.
Japan's industry was dominated by their ancient Zaibatsu system and the government gave great favour to the companies in the upper echelons of that system. Nippon Kogaku and Fuji were intimately integrated with the Japanese military and almost all of their research and production had funding from the top in aid of principally the navy. Optical glass of a grade sufficient to meet the demands of microscope designers did not exist until at least 1931 but it was almost entirely destined for military applications. Low light periscopes were a priority, using dozens and dozens of elements with reflective surfaces. Companies outside of the elite of the Zaibatsu generally did not benefit from the system. Kwanon( Canon) for instance had to go to Nippon Kogaku for ienses since they had a historical relationship with Schott and Zeiss, their primary supplier of refined optical glass. Lens production for almost anything outside of spectacles in Japan , was a military operation.
After W.W. II, Olympus had no access to Leitz but why would they change their parfocal length to the rather odd measure of 36 2/3 mm from 37mm? The answer is most assuredly that due to the U.S. occupation of Japan, dismantling of Zaibatsu and the U.S. control of the Japanese economy, they started buying lenses for installation in Olympus made barrels from Bausch & Lomb. A conversion from B & L's originally imperial measured objectives comes out to 36 2/3 mm or sometimes referred to as 36.65. It seems that at this point, Olympus was still not making their own glass or lenses.
It would be interesting to disassemble an early Olympus 36 .65mm objective and a contemporary B & L objective of the same class and see if the lenses are directly interchangeable.