MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Congratulations, Jim! What condenser is it on that scope? It looks different than the 1.4 ones that you showed us before. From those photos, I can barely make out what seems to be a 43x NA 0.95 with correction collar. Nothing else. Is the other brass apo 20x 0.6? That bidder placed his single high ...

It's a 1.25 abbe, with an auxiliary lens in a non-centering mount. The microscope was at one time a pretty standard series 15 monocular with achromats. Someone pushed it a little with apochromats. Indeed. Looks a bit strange to see a model 15 with apos on it, although I guess there is no reason one...

Well, thanks to Ebay it looks as though the Spencer 10x apo I've been looking for will soon be on its way. 'Course, I had to buy an entire microscope to get it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-American-Optical-AO-Spencer-Microscope-1950s-Made-in-USA-/231885719902?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=ST...

Thanks all. :P It appears that wood block holder 52211 is what I'm looking for. However, without tricky modifications, I doubt I'll be able to use the beast for rocks - the subject which has caught my attention for the moment. There are many options for getting samples down to 1mm or so. Thereafter...

That seems to be it :) Through the tubes its looks like a translucent sand grain. I had it Kohlered for x10. I can bring it back by closing down the condener aperture and it does seem to be to do with condenser height. I hadn't noticed it before. But I can get rid of it now. :) While I'm here... I ...

For my 9th birthday (1948) my father took me to the Bowery in NY city (pawnshop row) from our home in Mountain View NJ. He purchased a small microscope in a very nice wood case, I believe manufactured in Japan with 100, 200 & 300X, very good quality. Ah! Japanese optics! Back when they were still r...

Specifically what would be the result of using Spencer compens eyepieces with a Bausch and Lomb 16mm apo? I presume from some things you've posted previously about Bausch and Lomb that the Spencer eyepieces wouldn't furnish enough correction? How noticeable would it be? Hmm, reading back through on...

Phil, I presume the tall 16mm on the right is the one you offered me? Definitely longer than the others. Another question: I know that as a general rule apochromat objectives are supposed to be used with compensating eyepieces of the same make. What happens if brands are mixed? Specifically what wou...

Took me a few minutes to find this new thread, but definitely worth it. Those are some seriously pretty scopes and lenses, Phil. Something I've often wondered about is the significance of the chromed or silver colored end barrel on some of Spencer's objectives - as in the example of the 82x you have...

I thank you for the offer, Phil, but I think I'll wait for what should be on the scope. Something will turn up eventually - always does.

Regards,
Jim

I measured the length of the apos I already have by eyeballing them against a metric ruler, and they seem to hover around 34mm long from thread base to tip approximately. That is considerably shorter than the 38mm yours is, so they probably wouldn't get along well together on the same nosepiece. Jus...

JIm. I have a very old almost mint Spencer 10X .30 apochromat I have been thinking of selling. The only problem is it is 38mm, so I am guessing it wouldn't probably work for you. If I had a set I would keep it but I don't and it is unlikely I ever will have. I also have a mint condition 10X .25 bra...

Maybe it's specific to that type of head? I think I've seen the same on a 3 or 13 because one was broken off and I was looking for a replacement. I'm thinking it is specific to any of the scopes ordered with apochromats. If only the screw with the wide head (what do they call that type of screw?) i...

Yes, Charles. That's it. I see you have much faster fingers or computer skills than I.

Regards,
Jim

PS.
If you want to unload that 10x apo from it, you know who to contact.

Here's a photo of the same bracket on my #5 - for those who can't see it on the one Charles bought. On mine it works fine as long as only apos are mounted, but for achromats one almost can't get them close enough to focus. The fine focus has to be cranked nearly all the way down, and older objective...

Oh, man! How come I didn't see that this morning? I'd bet it wasn't posted for more than an hour, if that. I see it has the 10x apochromat on it I've been looking for - as well as a research stage R with controls both sides. One thing I can see from the sellers's pix - which answers a question for ...

Oh, man! How come I didn't see that this morning? You have to get up pretty early in the morning (figuratively speaking) to beat some of the veterans around here to a deal! :-) Great find, again, Charles! But....but....but I was up at 4:00 am cst this morning! Of course, when that thing sold about ...

Oh, man! How come I didn't see that this morning? I'd bet it wasn't posted for more than an hour, if that. I see it has the 10x apochromat on it I've been looking for - as well as a research stage R with controls both sides. One thing I can see from the sellers's pix - which answers a question for m...

Those are really stunning images, Rod! Just an AO 110 with a darkfield mask, stacking software, and a cell phone camera? Wow!

Regards,
Jim

Rich, If you have photos of your microscope on your computer, but just need to resize them for posting, you can do so at several sites online. I've been using this one the last few days: http://resizeyourimage.com/EN/#transform=&page_no=1&no_of_pages=1&filename=3.jpg&selection_top=36&selection_left=...

Phil, That's some very useful information you posted just above regarding the distance of the diaphragm from the condenser lens. Thanks! Also, the part about using an objective for a condenser. I knew that used to be done about a hundred years ago, and that Spencer's old scopes from the 1920's offer...

Jim: I suspected that the condenser fork with rack or the mount or both were wrong for my #5, but I couldn't find a listing for those parts in the catalogs I have available. Is there a parts blow-up for that model somewhere? The catalog says all condensers fit all models. Thanks, Rich PS: Even if I...

Hello, Miguel:

Welcome! I think you will like this group very much. Do not worry about your English. It is much, much better than either my Spanish or my Portuguese, which are almost non-existent.

Regards,

Jim

Your comments and photos show how it works clearly. I was just wondering how AO Spencer's factory oblique works. Oh! Did you mean how well do they work? I don't have a research #3, but I've tried the condenser for it on a model 13 lab scope (which it barely fits.) The one for the number 3 model see...

rnabholz wrote:Forgive me for losing sight of the purpose of this post.

Welcome Jim, you have found a great group of folks to hang out with. Look forward to getting to know you better.

Rod

Thank-you very much, Rod. Nice set up you have there.

Regards,

Jim

Hey, Kurt: Thanks for the warm welcome and kind words. It's gratifying to see how far you've come in the hobby and to know I had some small part in it. Speaking of books, recently I found a used copy of George Needham's The Practical Use of the Microscope for a reasonable price. Great book - very en...

Those are pretty ugly objectives, you have on there, Kurt. There are these nice polished chrome bodied ones, with very elegant , finely grooved grip rings. They are precisely embossed with delicate black lettering, too. The words, SPENCER LENS CO...BUFFALO.N.Y.... can clearly be seen around the upp...

Fan: I read your pm about the oblique illumination iris, but unfortunately the forum won't let me reply via personal message - too new. But to answer your question about how the separate oblique iris works on the Spencer condensers: It is a second iris placed just below the main condenser iris. Inst...

IMGP0444.jpg IMGP0442.jpg IMGP0443 (1).jpg Hi, Rich: Something is definitely not right. On my #5 both the na. 1.4 achromatic condenser and the na. 1.4 aplanatic or wide angle condenser will both rack up level to the stage - in fact the achromatic racks up at least an eighth of an inch higher since ...

Thank you, Jim, for your kind comments. I live mid way between you and Kurt, in medical center. Maybe around 60 min drive to you and 45 min to Kurt. You are entirely welcome, Fan. Sixty minutes from the Medical Center to where I live? Lol! Well if it's the right direction, not daytime or rush hour ...