Wow., big AO Illuminator

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Radazz
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Wow., big AO Illuminator

#1 Post by Radazz » Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:24 pm

Does this Light make my microscope look small?
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mrsonchus
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#2 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Oct 27, 2017 12:53 am

Crikey, looks like a death-ray! Beautiful 'scopes too! :)
John B

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Radazz
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#3 Post by Radazz » Fri Oct 27, 2017 1:18 pm

Looks right out of Flash Gordon!

On the right side of the Axioskop stage in the background are two slides I was using for evaluation.
The top slide in that stack of two is a mitotic root tip slide made by mrsonchus.
It gives me good detail all across the field of view to check for spherical aberration.

(OT, my spellcheck tried to turn that into spherical adoration, hmmm...)
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mrsonchus
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#4 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:30 pm

Oh - yes I see it! Hadn't noticed that! Great to know it's being enjoyed my friend, thank you. :D :D :)

"Spherical adoration" eh? hmmm, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt! :D :D :)
John B

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rnabholz
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#5 Post by rnabholz » Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:46 pm

Nice rig radazz.

This one is also a whopper. Really works well though.

More pics here:
http://homebuiltastronomy.com/OI/index.htm
img_20160601_202948_std.jpg
img_20160601_202948_std.jpg (96.44 KiB) Viewed 7791 times

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mrsonchus
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#6 Post by mrsonchus » Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:12 am

What a beautiful instrument - looks like it even has a hand-grip on it's upright? Absolutely lovely - you're a lucky fellow! :)
John B

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KurtM
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#7 Post by KurtM » Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:08 am

Radazz, a beautiful old AO/Spencer No. 735 Research Lamp! Coupled with the scope shown, it should yield the most fabulous views ever when set up correctly!

Ask me how I know...

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/

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Radazz
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#8 Post by Radazz » Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:22 pm

Nice, Kurt, I checked out your website. I really love these vintage microscopes.
Here are some treasures.
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KurtM
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#9 Post by KurtM » Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:58 am

Love the "black beauty" inverted! 8-) With mechanical stage too, I see. 8-) 8-)
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/

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Radazz
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#10 Post by Radazz » Wed Nov 01, 2017 7:58 pm

rnabholz wrote:Nice rig radazz.

This one is also a whopper. Really works well though.

More pics here:
http://homebuiltastronomy.com/OI/index.htm

img_20160601_202948_std.jpg
Holy cow!
Forces the operator to work behind the arm, but this was a transitional period wasn’t it?
Beautiful setup. Looks like you would need sunglasses, but looking at the photos it seems very comfortable.
Arnold, Missouri
Olympus IX70
Olympus BX40
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apochronaut
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#11 Post by apochronaut » Wed Nov 01, 2017 11:03 pm

Most of the remote "research illuminators", such as the Spencer/AO 735, it's B & L equivalent( can't remember the #), the Spencer/AO 370, the various Ortho Iluminators( Baker, AO and Silge & Kuhn are 3 I know), and many others from the better makers, were based on a 100 watt or more tungsten output. 100 watts seems to have been the default wattage needed, to cover the possibility of high resolution DF but clearly, the heat developed by such tungsten bulbs, needed to be remote. Most of them had condensing lenses and mechanisms to control the light quite precisely, so that distance could be kept and the illumination quality high. Many had multiple filtration possibilities to be used with high end lenses for photography.
Standard remote illuminators of from 10 to 40 watts, often lacked many of the sophisticated controls and accessories the research models had and often were used closer to the mirror.

The two wattage catagories , were not unlike what evolved with in base 10 to 30 watt illuminators compared to the rear mounted 100 watt illuminators as found on later research models from most reputable makers. The advent of halogen illumination, lowered the heat, allowing the illuminators to be housed compactly.

Such remote illumination systems are looked down on nowadays as old fashioned, cumbersome and even dangerous. Fortunately, those of us who use them, know none of that to be true and the superior quality of results that such superb engineering provides.

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KurtM
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#12 Post by KurtM » Thu Nov 02, 2017 1:29 am

apochronaut wrote: Such remote illumination systems are looked down on nowadays as old fashioned, cumbersome and even dangerous. Fortunately, those of us who use them, know none of that to be true and the superior quality of results that such superb engineering provides.
Agree here, that's for sure. Simply put, nothing outperforms a correctly set up research lamp.
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/

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rnabholz
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#13 Post by rnabholz » Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:12 am

Thank you John B - I really enjoy it. It is set up for darkfield exclusively, and it does a wonderful job.

Radazz wrote:
rnabholz wrote:Nice rig radazz.

This one is also a whopper. Really works well though.

More pics here:
http://homebuiltastronomy.com/OI/index.htm

img_20160601_202948_std.jpg
Holy cow!
Forces the operator to work behind the arm, but this was a transitional period wasn’t it?
Beautiful setup. Looks like you would need sunglasses, but looking at the photos it seems very comfortable.
Yes, working from behind the arm is a bit of a "switch hit" but you get used to it.

As Apo and Kurt have said, it is a highly capable rig and produces wonderful results while giving the satisfaction and pleasure of using a bit of vintage kit.
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apochronaut
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#14 Post by apochronaut » Mon Nov 06, 2017 5:56 pm

For anyone interested, here is a working cat.# 370 Spencer 100 watt on ebay, at a good price. These were an older offering from Spencer/AO going back into the 20's but still in the catalogues in the 50's. They provide most of the features of the # 735 and in addition, with the adjustment on the sliding rail, can get up high enough to be used for incident lighting too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spencer-Lens-C ... SwGdhZpgW2

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Radazz
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Re: Wow., big AO Illuminator

#15 Post by Radazz » Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:13 pm

That’s a cool one as well. I like the looks of the #735.
Some of the others look like railroad lanterns.
One could accumulate quite a collection of interesting Illuminators.
Arnold, Missouri
Olympus IX70
Olympus BX40
Olympus SZ40

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