Tolles type B, compound microscope
Date: circa 1870
Inventory Number: 1016
Classification: Microscope
Subject:
Maker: Boston Optical Works (fl. 1867 - 1895)
Maker: Robert B. Tolles (1823 - 1883)
Owner: Jeffries Wyman (1814 - 1874)
Donor: Alpheus Hyatt (1838 - 1902)
Collector: Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
microscope: 41 × 24.2 × 16.7 cm (16 1/8 × 9 1/2 × 6 9/16 in.)
case: 46.3 × 20.5 × 26 cm (18 1/4 × 8 1/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
Description:
Inventory no. 1016 is a large, brass Tolles microscope, with stand B design, its case, and numerous accessories. It has been divided into the following:
1016a: Tolles type B microscope
1016b: Tolles objectives, oculars, and case
1016c: Tolles side illumination prism
1016d: Tolles opaque specimen objective
1016e: Tolles side illumination objective
1016f: Tolles polarizing objective
See the separate inventory records for more details.
1016a: Tolles type B microscope
1016b: Tolles objectives, oculars, and case
1016c: Tolles side illumination prism
1016d: Tolles opaque specimen objective
1016e: Tolles side illumination objective
1016f: Tolles polarizing objective
See the separate inventory records for more details.
In Collection(s)
Historical AttributesNote from Dr. Lewis: "Presented by Prof. Alpheus Hyatt, Oct. 6, 1900. Belonged originally to Professor Jeffries Wyman. The Boston Optical Works became solely owned by Tolles sometime between 1867 and 1871. This microscope appears to be from this period."
Curatorial RemarksThree specialized objectives in this microscope kit have stickers from Mr. Wheatland labeling them 1016d, 1016e, and 1016f. They have received separate entries because of their unusual nature.
No other parts of the kit were labeled 1016a, b, or c. Presumably 1016a was the microscope; 1016b might have been the fitted case and its parts' boxes filled with objectives and oculars; and 1016c could have been the side illumination prism (whose underside is scratched "1016 / e", a number re-used by Wheatland for an objective).
We have used this presumption in assigning the inventory numbers.
No other parts of the kit were labeled 1016a, b, or c. Presumably 1016a was the microscope; 1016b might have been the fitted case and its parts' boxes filled with objectives and oculars; and 1016c could have been the side illumination prism (whose underside is scratched "1016 / e", a number re-used by Wheatland for an objective).
We have used this presumption in assigning the inventory numbers.
ProvenanceOwned and used by Professor Jeffries Wyman, Professor of Anatomy and Curator of the Peabody Museum at Harvard University. Given by Mary M. Wyman, daughter of Dr. Jeffries Wyman, to Professor Alpheous Hyatt for the Boston Society of Natural History in October 1899. Presented by Prof. Alpheous Hyatt, Oct. 6, 1900, to Dr. Ernst. Part of Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 16), Harvard Medical School, 1900.
