home-made compound microscope
Date: circa 1867
Inventory Number: 1028
Classification: Microscope
Subject:
Inventor: Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 - 1894)
User: James H. Bodge (possibly maker) (1841 - 1893)
Maker: Charles X. Dalton (later owner, donor) (1840 - 1912)
Maker: Boston Optical Works (fl. 1867 - 1895)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
microscope: 36 × 18 × 35 cm (14 3/16 × 7 1/16 × 13 3/4 in.)
blue board box: 41 × 22.9 × 38.7 cm (16 1/8 × 9 × 15 1/4 in.)
Accessories: 3 Tolles oculars (low power, 30.1 mm O.D.; medium power, 30.1 mm O.D., solid front with scale, single eye lens; high power, 24.7 mm O.D., single front, solid eye lens); 1 ocular (without a lens) ; 1 objective (without a lens).
Description:
This unusual microscope has a large wooden base board on which is mounted a cradle for the brass optical assembly. The stage is made from a horseshoe magnet, and the slide is held by brass clips to a strip of iron that adheres to the magnet. The light source is a candle. A large disk of pasteboard (covered in marbled paper) is placed over the front end of the optical tube to shield on wanted light from the user's eyes.
On either side of the wooden cradle are compartments to hold 3 spare oculars, a piece of cork, glass slides, and a case for an objective. Two of the oculars are marked with "PAT'D SEPT. 25 1855," which is the patent date for Robert B. Tolles's solid eyepiece.
One of the oculars that fits into the 30.5 mm tube is merely a combination of stops without any provision for lenses. Likewise, one objective is a shell without a lens.
On either side of the wooden cradle are compartments to hold 3 spare oculars, a piece of cork, glass slides, and a case for an objective. Two of the oculars are marked with "PAT'D SEPT. 25 1855," which is the patent date for Robert B. Tolles's solid eyepiece.
One of the oculars that fits into the 30.5 mm tube is merely a combination of stops without any provision for lenses. Likewise, one objective is a shell without a lens.
In Collection(s)
Inscribedbrass plate on wooden base: Charles X. Dalton
on paper stuck to underside of base: 28 / Made by or for / Dr. James H. Bodge / M.D. Harvard 1867
on paper stuck to underside of base: 28 / Made by or for / Dr. James H. Bodge / M.D. Harvard 1867
Historical AttributesThis microscope was made for his own use by James Henry Bodge of Newton, Massachusetts around 1865. Bodge devised the unusual magnetic stage. The portable wooden design shows that Bodge was also influenced by the teaching microscopes invented by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes of the Harvard Medical School.
Bodge earned an MD from Harvard in 1867. Dr. Bodge was an examiner for Life Insurance Company and used this microscope for that work.
The connection of this microscope to Charles X. Dalton, whose brass label appears on the instrument is enigmatic. The microscope includes Tolles eyepieces and Dalton long worked with Tolles in the firm of Boston Optical Works. It is possible that Bodge asked for Dalton's help in making this microscope according to his specifications, or that he sought out Dalton at some point to repair the instrument. This is certainly not the style or quality of microscope that Tolles, Dalton, or the Boston Optical Works were famous for!
Charles Dalton presented the microscope to Harvard on 4 December 1900, several years after Dr. Bodge's death in 1893.
Bodge earned an MD from Harvard in 1867. Dr. Bodge was an examiner for Life Insurance Company and used this microscope for that work.
The connection of this microscope to Charles X. Dalton, whose brass label appears on the instrument is enigmatic. The microscope includes Tolles eyepieces and Dalton long worked with Tolles in the firm of Boston Optical Works. It is possible that Bodge asked for Dalton's help in making this microscope according to his specifications, or that he sought out Dalton at some point to repair the instrument. This is certainly not the style or quality of microscope that Tolles, Dalton, or the Boston Optical Works were famous for!
Charles Dalton presented the microscope to Harvard on 4 December 1900, several years after Dr. Bodge's death in 1893.