Cary-type compound microscope
Date: circa 1820
Inventory Number: 1162
Classification: Microscope
Subject:
Maker: William Cary (c. 1759 - 1825)
Owner: John Randall (1774 - 1843)
Owner: John Witt Randall (1813 - 1892)
Donor: E. Stanley Abbot
Collector: Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
microscope: 23 × 15.2 × 14.3 cm (9 1/16 × 6 × 5 5/8 in.)
case: 5.1 × 15.2 × 14.3 cm (2 × 6 × 5 5/8 in.)
box: 15.2 × 18.4 × 17.1 cm (6 × 7 1/4 × 6 3/4 in.)
Accessories: objectives (4): 1 to 4; attached ocular; objective with Lieberkühn; 4 ivory slides; 2 stage forceps; scalpel, dissecting needle, brush; 3 glass slides; mirror; bull's eye condenser; insect box; black/white disc; round brass stage with glass window ; flat wooden case; booklet.
DescriptionBrass rectangular pillar screws in brass socket on the case lid. Focus is by use of rackwork on the pillar to move stage up and down. Brass stage has spring for slides and will take round live box or glass stage. There are holes to insert stage forceps or a bull's eye stage condenser. Substage concave mirror is present.
The optical tube is cylindrical at the ocular end and tapers at the objective end. The latter screws into the back of the objective, which in turn screws into a ring attached by a bar to the top of the pillar.
The microscope can be used as a simple microscope without the compound body.
Its mahogany wood box is fitted with a lift out tray and lined in dark teal velvet. It holds objectives (4): 1 to 4; ocular; objective with Lieberkühn; 4 ivory slides; 2 stage forceps with steel needles; a hair brush with a quill handle; a scalpel with an ivory handle; a dissecting needle of steel with an ivory handle; 3 glass slides; mirror; bull's eye condenser; insect box; a black/white disc; and round brass disc with a glass window for use as a stage.
An illustrated leaflet, "Description of a new and improved pocket compound microscope....Made and sold by W. Cary, No. 182 Strand, London" is beneath the case tray. The firm was at this address from 1794-1822.
The optical tube is cylindrical at the ocular end and tapers at the objective end. The latter screws into the back of the objective, which in turn screws into a ring attached by a bar to the top of the pillar.
The microscope can be used as a simple microscope without the compound body.
Its mahogany wood box is fitted with a lift out tray and lined in dark teal velvet. It holds objectives (4): 1 to 4; ocular; objective with Lieberkühn; 4 ivory slides; 2 stage forceps with steel needles; a hair brush with a quill handle; a scalpel with an ivory handle; a dissecting needle of steel with an ivory handle; 3 glass slides; mirror; bull's eye condenser; insect box; a black/white disc; and round brass disc with a glass window for use as a stage.
An illustrated leaflet, "Description of a new and improved pocket compound microscope....Made and sold by W. Cary, No. 182 Strand, London" is beneath the case tray. The firm was at this address from 1794-1822.
Signedon microscope rackwork: Cary, LONDON
leaflet: MADE AND SOLD / By W. CARY, / No. 182, STRAND, LONDON.
leaflet: MADE AND SOLD / By W. CARY, / No. 182, STRAND, LONDON.
Historical AttributesGiven in 1929 by Dr. Edward Stanley Abbot (AB 1887, MD 1893) to the Ernst-Lewis Collection (formerly No. 162).
A note in the box states that the microscope belonged to Dr. John Witt Randall (1813-1892, AB 1834, MD 1839), and possibly also to his father, Dr. John Randall (1774-1843, AB 1802, MB 1806, MD 1811). Dr. John Randall was the grandson through his mother of Samuel Adams.
A note in the box states that the microscope belonged to Dr. John Witt Randall (1813-1892, AB 1834, MD 1839), and possibly also to his father, Dr. John Randall (1774-1843, AB 1802, MB 1806, MD 1811). Dr. John Randall was the grandson through his mother of Samuel Adams.
Provenanceperhaps owned by Dr. John Randall (1774-1843) before transfer to his son, Dr. John Witt Randall (1813-1892); Dr. Edward Stanley Abbot; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 162), Harvard Medical School.