From Russia With Love

What equipment do you use? Post pictures and descriptions of your microscope(s) here!
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Crater Eddie
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From Russia With Love

#1 Post by Crater Eddie » Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:33 pm

No, it isn't 21 year old Daniela Bianchi (darn it!), its, its, well, I'm not sure what her name is yet, but here she is:

Image
Image
Image

She took almost 2 weeks to the day to arrive here from Yekaterinburg, Russia. She looks a little rough and neglected right now, but that's nothing that a little TLC and a few hundred dollars worth of parts can't fix. :lol:
This POLAM L-213 stand is very similar to Boris, my L-2-2, but there are a few differences in the installed fittings.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

billbillt
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Re: From Russia With Love

#2 Post by billbillt » Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:37 pm

Congrats!!.. Looks to be a well heeled Russian lady!..... Keep us posted on your progress...


BillT

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mrsonchus
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Re: From Russia With Love

#3 Post by mrsonchus » Thu Mar 09, 2017 7:19 pm

Very solid & classy-looking - I'll enjoy your restoration of this little beauty.
:)
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75RR
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Re: From Russia With Love

#4 Post by 75RR » Thu Mar 09, 2017 7:49 pm

Congratulations
2 weeks is exceedingly fast - I thought mail order brides took longer.
I am sure Boris will be pleased.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#5 Post by Crater Eddie » Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:33 pm

Thanks fellows, it promises to be a fun project. It might be a lengthy one though, as some of the parts are likely to be hard to find.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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KurtM
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Re: From Russia With Love

#6 Post by KurtM » Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:46 am

Excellent! Please do keep us apprised of progress, I find those "mail order brides" ( :lol: ) very interesting. :geek:
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
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RudiV
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Re: From Russia With Love

#7 Post by RudiV » Fri Mar 10, 2017 4:46 am

Congratulations! Looks like a fun project.

I am watching with interest what bits you choose to complete her with.

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hkv
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Re: From Russia With Love

#8 Post by hkv » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:00 pm

Super! Great quality in these eastern Europe stands. I have Zeiss Jena that is built like a tank.
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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#9 Post by Crater Eddie » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:24 pm

I guess I have developed an affection for these big Russian stands. I saw this one on $bay a few weeks ago and watched it sit there for a while, and finally just couldn't resist.
I started to clean it up last night but realized that what I thought was doodling on the right hand rest is actually a sort of grid filled with numbers and a small sketch of some kind. I think I'll leave this intact as part of the stand's history. It is kind of faint, but I'll try to get a good photo over the weekend.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

billbillt
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Re: From Russia With Love

#10 Post by billbillt » Fri Mar 10, 2017 3:52 pm

Crater Eddie wrote:I guess I have developed an affection for these big Russian stands. I saw this one on $bay a few weeks ago and watched it sit there for a while, and finally just couldn't resist.
I started to clean it up last night but realized that what I thought was doodling on the right hand rest is actually a sort of grid filled with numbers and a small sketch of some kind. I think I'll leave this intact as part of the stand's history. It is kind of faint, but I'll try to get a good photo over the weekend.
CE

That would be interesting to see...

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#11 Post by Crater Eddie » Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:08 pm

Cryptic.JPG
Cryptic.JPG (300.66 KiB) Viewed 14356 times
This is the best photo I could get of the writing on the base. Its very faint, mostly numbers.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

billbillt
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Re: From Russia With Love

#12 Post by billbillt » Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:50 pm

Strange.... Some type of cuneiform writing it seems.. Would be interesting to known what it was for...

Thanks!
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lorez
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Re: From Russia With Love

#13 Post by lorez » Sat Mar 11, 2017 1:57 am

I'm going out on the limb here, to say that I think the numbers may be related to field or scale dimensions as seen through various objectives. While we, as hobbyists, sometimes obsess with neat and clean instruments with pristine finishes many of the professionals that I work with treat their microscopes as a tool of their trade and use it in ways one may not imagine. It's not uncommon to see all sorts of notes regarding measuring values scribbled on the stand.

I think it's nice to keep the scope as you got it for the reasons you have cited.

I recently met a researcher who had an old B&L Dynoptic microscope with a service sticker from an old gentleman who had a microscope service company in the late 70's (when he was in his late 70s and I was not yet 30). It was my pleasure to know him and it created quite an opportunity for a trip down memory lane.

lorez
Last edited by lorez on Sat Mar 11, 2017 4:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

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mrsonchus
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Re: From Russia With Love

#14 Post by mrsonchus » Sat Mar 11, 2017 2:42 am

Agree here, I'd say it's worth leaving or even preserving with perhaps a layer of clear 'stuff' - it's part of that 'scope's life-story after all. Definitely looks like an objective scale to me too. A nice touch for the 'old campaigner' that this lovely 'scope is....

Keep it on! :D :)
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75RR
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Re: From Russia With Love

#15 Post by 75RR » Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:12 am

Would be interesting to know what it means.
Perhaps the fact that it is a Polarizing microscope would help in figuring out the tables.
I see two, or imagine I see two anyway.
First column of the larger table does seem to show objective magnifications.

Perhaps just preserving a photographic record of its original (as received) condition would be enough.

Image
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#16 Post by Crater Eddie » Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:47 am

Thanks Lorez and all, I am sure you are correct, as that makes perfect sense.
I have taken several photos of the markings and will keep them for future reference. I want to leave them in place, as it adds interest to the piece, but the stand overall does need a good cleaning. I'll be as gentle as I can.
Thanks to a stroke of good luck I now have some of the hardest to find parts on the way, so the build might not take as long as I originally thought. Although, I probably won't rebuild it to it's stock configuration. More than one Russian supplier has told me that some of the POLAM parts are quite hard to find in good condition, so I'll most likely end up with a hybrid. That's fine with me.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

einman
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Re: From Russia With Love

#17 Post by einman » Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:37 pm

Hmm..looks like CIA stuff..LOL

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#18 Post by Crater Eddie » Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:44 pm

einman wrote:Hmm..looks like CIA stuff..LOL
Or in this case KGB :mrgreen:
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#19 Post by Crater Eddie » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:48 pm

Here is the major fly in the ointment, at least for now. Looking down on both stands without viewing heads from above, Boris on the left, new stand on the right:

Image

Here the circular plate is removed from the new stand:

Image

This is not the typical LOMO dovetail, my spare viewing heads to not fit this, with the plate in place or removed.
The stock POLAM has an intermediate tube mounted here with the accouterments for the analyzer and whatnot, and the viewing head mounts on top of that. You can see that the whole mount is different on each scope one from the other. My challenge is to either make an adapter to allow my heads to fit or find the intermediate tube. Since I have over stretched my spending budget already for a while I'll be considering the adapter route. I realize that I will have to be mindful of preserving the tube length.
I would be glad of any comments and/or suggestions.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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75RR
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Re: From Russia With Love

#20 Post by 75RR » Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:41 pm

Have you tried removing Boris's dovetail and seeing if it fits the new one (you really should get around to choosing a name),
if it does fit then perhaps you can:
a) Have one made (using Boris's dovetail as a template)
b) Pinch one from another Lomo

Note: If the intermediate tube has Telan lenses then you don't need to worry about tube length.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#21 Post by Crater Eddie » Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:43 am

If I could find a mount from another stand like Boris I could indeed swap the fitting with the dovetail. A few folks are watching for one for me. Unfortunately the fitting from the normal BIOLAM or MULTISCOPE is different, they will not interchange.
I think the intermediate tube does have a telen lens, going from the photos of one that I have found. I'll probably end up with one eventually. I do have a few ideas to tinker around with in the mean time.
As far the new stand, she tells me that her name is Natalia.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#22 Post by Crater Eddie » Wed Mar 15, 2017 3:21 pm

Multiple boxes filled with marvelous goodies are now preparing for the long and arduous journey from various points half way around the globe. This might take a while, but will be worth the wait.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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mrsonchus
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Re: From Russia With Love

#23 Post by mrsonchus » Wed Mar 15, 2017 5:36 pm

Exciting times Eddie! Please keep us updated - it's a really enjoyable and interesting project to see such a beautiful instrument rebuilt...

the best

John B :)
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75RR
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Re: From Russia With Love

#24 Post by 75RR » Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:55 pm

Multiple boxes filled with marvelous goodies are now preparing for the long and arduous journey from various points half way around the globe. This might take a while, but will be worth the wait.
Well done! Looking forward to getting a peek at the goodie box when it arrives.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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Re: From Russia With Love

#25 Post by Crater Eddie » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:22 pm

Yeah, me too.
That two week trip for the stand spoiled me. One box is on it's way from Minsk, it hasn't been scanned since the 7th.

CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#26 Post by Crater Eddie » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:29 pm

The good:

Image


The not so good:

Image

The dovetail doesn't fit, its too small.
I don't relish the thought of shipping this back to Minsk, I'll check to see if it fits the Multiscope, if it does I'll just keep it. I'll keep my eyes open for the correct size dovetail fitting, might find one of those I suppose.
Lesson learned. Darn it.
Its a shame too, because it operates perfectly, all movements smooth as silk. I do have a machinist friend, I might see if he can make me a new dovetail mount.

CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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Re: From Russia With Love

#27 Post by 75RR » Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:38 am

That is a pity. I take it that the one that fits on Boris is the same size as the one you need.
Handy to have a friend who is a machinist. Hope you remembered to send him a xmas card.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#28 Post by Crater Eddie » Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:21 pm

Yes, the one from Boris would fit perfectly, as the dovetails are identical. I'll keep on the lookout for a used one, you never know when stuff will pop up. Building a replacement is an option, but I'll hold on that one as a last resort.
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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Crater Eddie
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Re: From Russia With Love

#29 Post by Crater Eddie » Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:53 pm

Image

Image

Oh boy! Christmas in March!
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB

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75RR
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Re: From Russia With Love

#30 Post by 75RR » Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:49 pm

Congrats - quick shipping as well.
Looks like a lot of the major lifting is now done.
At this rate I would say there is a good chance you will have it up and running this year ;)
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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