A recurring obsession

[yoicks]

Microscopy got hold of me when I was a kid. I kept my interest in spite of a largely non-functional Gilbert toy microscope, which was replaced by a serviceable Sans & Streiffe "mid-sized" scope with which I chased pond life, blood smears, crudely sectioned tissue samples, and anything else I could fit on the stage. The illuminator proved inadequate, so I built a variable intensity, focusable lamp from lenses from Edmund Scientific and electrical parts from Allied Radio. At the same time, I requested brochures from B&L, AO, and Wild, over which I pored for hours at a time.

After junior high, the enthusiasm lay dormant for a number of years, when a friend gave me a brass Spencer scope, for which I sourced functional optics. My illuminator was lost in a house fire, and I had less time to spend on microscopy, so I noodled around with that instrument until I happened to think of eBay and again became serious about microscopes. I really like the aesthetics of Spencer scopes of the era and that it is an American product.

I have several Spencer scopes that are as fine optically as any instrument from any manufacturer of the period from any nation, and I am still in love with their design. In descending order, I have a Research No. 5, Research No. 3, a binocular lab scope, my original brass monocular, as well as an Orthoilluminator (which, in addition to providing superior illumination, makes a stable platform for my scope), and numerous accessories.

[75RR]

Welcome yoicks,

do post photos of your microscopes in the My microscope section.

[zzffnn]

Welcome! You must be a serious microscopist, just like many of us in this forum.

[charlie g]

Welcome, yoicks. Nice to see you get use out of your Orthoilluminator. I love my 160 tube length stands, I really enjoy freshwater wetlands and still water protists and meiofauna microscopy. charlie guevara

[KurtM]

You'll find an appreciative audience for your classic Spencer scopes here for sure. My first "real" microscope was (is) a Spencer Model 33, and my first bino microscope a Spencer Model 13, which led me to using the Spencer No. 730 and 370 lamps to achieve true Kohler illumination, followed later by an Ortho-Illuminator. I dreamed of owning a No. 3 and/or No. 5 research stand and still do, but my keenest desires led me instead down the path of phase contrast, and later DIC. Maybe someday...

Here's a partial list of my Spencer and AO/Spencer scopes: http://sawdustfactory.nfshost.com/microscopes/

[apochronaut]

Welcome to this forum and you have a very nice group of microscopes. It is hard to beat those old Spencer apochromats and the functionality of a # 5 stand. They were remarkably ergonomic for their time, as well.

[billbillt]

Yes, please post photos!..
Billt

[yoicks]

Thanks all! I shall post photos and additional information as soon as time permits.

[Charles]

Welcome Richard! Glad you found your way over here. A lot of us have that obsession. Some more than others!
A lot of good folks here.

[yoicks]

I suspected you are the Charles who pointed me in the direction of this site, for which I thank you!

[Charles]

Yes, it is I.

[gekko]

I'll be looking forward to seeing the pictures!