bull's eye condenser
Date: 1856-1862
Inventory Number: 1106d
Classification: Microscope Condenser
Subject:
Maker: Camille Sébastien Nachet (1799 - 1881)
Owner: Benjamin Shurtleff Shaw (1837 - 1893)
Owner: Jeffries Wyman (1814 - 1874)
Owner: Richard Manning Hodges (1827 - 1896)
Donor: Alpheus Hyatt (1838 - 1902)
Collector: Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
condenser at right angle to arm: 24 x 19 x 8.5 cm (9 7/16 x 7 1/2 x 3 3/8 in.)
Description:
1106d is a large condensing lens on a stand, which was an accessory in the box of the Nachet drum microscope (1106a).
The condensing lens is 7.5 cm in diameter and held in a brass collar. The collar is attached to a stem that is inserted into a sleeve on an articulated arm that slides up and down on a brass column. The column screws into a lead-filled brass base.
The condensing lens is 7.5 cm in diameter and held in a brass collar. The collar is attached to a stem that is inserted into a sleeve on an articulated arm that slides up and down on a brass column. The column screws into a lead-filled brass base.
Signedunsigned
Historical AttributesThis elegant and well-equipped drum microscope belonged to Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff Shaw, the first Resident Physician of Massachusetts General Hospital.
According to a note in the file, Dr. Shaw purchased it in Paris "circa 1870," but it seems likely that it was purchased earlier when he was in Paris studying anatomy at the same time as Dr. R. M. Hodges in the 1850s.
The Ernst-Lewis Collection had two more Nachet drum microscopes that were identical to this instrument. One belonged to Jeffries Wyman, Hersey Professor of Anatomy at Harvard College and curator of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. The other belonged to Dr. R. M. Hodges, a classmate of Dr. Shaw, a surgeon, and the Demonstrator of Anatomy at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lewis discarded these after transferring a few accessories to the instrument owned by Dr. Shaw. The items transferred include two objectives and two diaphragms, a parts box, and possibly some eyepieces.
Dr. Lewis noted that Dr. Shaw's microscope was "presented by Henry S. Shaw 1928." Dr. Ernst noted that Alpheus Hyatt, the renowned zoologist, presented Dr. Wyman's instrument in June 1900.
According to a note in the file, Dr. Shaw purchased it in Paris "circa 1870," but it seems likely that it was purchased earlier when he was in Paris studying anatomy at the same time as Dr. R. M. Hodges in the 1850s.
The Ernst-Lewis Collection had two more Nachet drum microscopes that were identical to this instrument. One belonged to Jeffries Wyman, Hersey Professor of Anatomy at Harvard College and curator of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. The other belonged to Dr. R. M. Hodges, a classmate of Dr. Shaw, a surgeon, and the Demonstrator of Anatomy at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lewis discarded these after transferring a few accessories to the instrument owned by Dr. Shaw. The items transferred include two objectives and two diaphragms, a parts box, and possibly some eyepieces.
Dr. Lewis noted that Dr. Shaw's microscope was "presented by Henry S. Shaw 1928." Dr. Ernst noted that Alpheus Hyatt, the renowned zoologist, presented Dr. Wyman's instrument in June 1900.
Curatorial RemarksAccording to Dr. Lewis: "a small mahogany box for objectives contains objectives 1, 2, 6, and 7 with holes for 4 more and 2 larger empty holes (for diaphragms). The objectives for 106 [old number, now 1106] are slightly smaller than those for 76 [discarded 12/13/57], they miss being interchangeable in their boxes."
Dr. Lewis also notes that Nachet microscopes [old numbers] 76 and 107 were identical to 106, and were discarded in 1957 after their parts were transferred to 106.
The small objective box from 106 now contains 6 objectives and 2 diaphragms. The objectives added are 4 and possibly 0 (which is unmarked). This would imply that the added objectives came from 107, since those of 76 were too big for the holes in the box. The source of the diaphragms is unknown.
Another note from Dr. Lewis tells us that the parts box in the case of 106 came from 76.
The owner of Nachet microscope 76 may have been Jeffries Wyman. That of 106 was R. M. Hodges.
Dr. Lewis also notes that Nachet microscopes [old numbers] 76 and 107 were identical to 106, and were discarded in 1957 after their parts were transferred to 106.
The small objective box from 106 now contains 6 objectives and 2 diaphragms. The objectives added are 4 and possibly 0 (which is unmarked). This would imply that the added objectives came from 107, since those of 76 were too big for the holes in the box. The source of the diaphragms is unknown.
Another note from Dr. Lewis tells us that the parts box in the case of 106 came from 76.
The owner of Nachet microscope 76 may have been Jeffries Wyman. That of 106 was R. M. Hodges.
Provenancemicroscope and box: Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff Shaw, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, purchased in Paris before 1893; Henry S. Shaw, before 1928; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 106), Harvard Medical School, 1928.
parts box and components: Professor Jeffries Wyman, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University; Alpheus Hyatt; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 76), Harvard Medical School, June 1900
components: Dr. Richard M. Hodges, Harvard Medical School; Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 107), Harvard Medical School.
parts box and components: Professor Jeffries Wyman, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University; Alpheus Hyatt; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 76), Harvard Medical School, June 1900
components: Dr. Richard M. Hodges, Harvard Medical School; Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 107), Harvard Medical School.