case and accessories for Tolles type B compound microscope
Date: circa 1870
Inventory Number: 1016b
Classification: Microscope Objective
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:
case: 46.3 × 20.5 × 26 cm (18 1/4 × 8 1/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
Accessories: 3 Tolles objectives: 1 with 3 fronts; empty can 8/10; 5 Tolles oculars 34 mm dia.: 2 all solid, 2 solid field l. & single eye lens, 1 std.; blue filter; case; key. Also see 1016a: microscope with centerable condenser with diaphragm wheel; and mechanical stage. 1016c: side illumination prism. 1016d, e, f: specialized Tolles objectives.
Description1016b is the standing case, parts' boxes, objectives, and oculars for the Tolles type B microscope (1016a).
Accessories include an upright standing mahogany case with lock (removed, ivory face sotred in case) and steel key and two pull out drawers. The drawers are fitted with circular openings for eyepieces and objectives. The case handle is a leather strap. It is broken. There is a fitted base board on which the microscope sits, and which is pulled out to remove the microscope from the case. The case was also altered with notches to accommodate the instrument.
Included with the instrument are 5 eyepieces, 34 mm diameter: Two are all solid eyepieces; one has a dust cover. Two have solid field lenses with a single eye lens. One is a standard ocular.
There are 3 Tolles objectives: a 1/12 inch, oil immersion objective with correction collar, dated November 2, 1873, stored in a non-Tolles brass canister; a 1/5 inch objective according to the canister (but inscribed 1/6 inch inside the lid), marked "For Water," with a correction collar, dated March 17, 1868; and a 2 inch objective dated November 13, 1860. The latter two canisters are marked on top and bottom: "1/5" and "2 In."
There are also three alternative "front" lenses for the Tolles objectives, each in its own canister: In a canister scratched "1/5 dry / Tolles," is a lens marked 140°. Another canister scratched "Tolles / 1/5 water / 1/7" is empty, since its lens is on the 1/5 objective. The last canister is scratched "1/4 / Tolles / dry." It contains a lens simply marked "TOLLES."
The case also holds an empty objective canister marked "8/10 In." on top and bottom; and a blue glass filter on which someone has penciled "48."
Also associated with this kit are:
1016a: Tolles type B microscope
1016c: 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.
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E. Gay tested the objectives (9/23/1970):
1/12 immersion, ~100x: edge of field fuzzy, dated 11/2/1873.
1/5 according to canister (marked 1/6 inside): with 1/4 dry front, ~30x, very good, dated 11/3/1868 [date misread]; with 1/5 dry front, 140 d., ~40x, equal to modern lens; with 1/5 water front, ~40x, fine, but not as flat.
2" not tested but very clean.
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Accessories include an upright standing mahogany case with lock (removed, ivory face sotred in case) and steel key and two pull out drawers. The drawers are fitted with circular openings for eyepieces and objectives. The case handle is a leather strap. It is broken. There is a fitted base board on which the microscope sits, and which is pulled out to remove the microscope from the case. The case was also altered with notches to accommodate the instrument.
Included with the instrument are 5 eyepieces, 34 mm diameter: Two are all solid eyepieces; one has a dust cover. Two have solid field lenses with a single eye lens. One is a standard ocular.
There are 3 Tolles objectives: a 1/12 inch, oil immersion objective with correction collar, dated November 2, 1873, stored in a non-Tolles brass canister; a 1/5 inch objective according to the canister (but inscribed 1/6 inch inside the lid), marked "For Water," with a correction collar, dated March 17, 1868; and a 2 inch objective dated November 13, 1860. The latter two canisters are marked on top and bottom: "1/5" and "2 In."
There are also three alternative "front" lenses for the Tolles objectives, each in its own canister: In a canister scratched "1/5 dry / Tolles," is a lens marked 140°. Another canister scratched "Tolles / 1/5 water / 1/7" is empty, since its lens is on the 1/5 objective. The last canister is scratched "1/4 / Tolles / dry." It contains a lens simply marked "TOLLES."
The case also holds an empty objective canister marked "8/10 In." on top and bottom; and a blue glass filter on which someone has penciled "48."
Also associated with this kit are:
1016a: Tolles type B microscope
1016c: 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.
----------------------
E. Gay tested the objectives (9/23/1970):
1/12 immersion, ~100x: edge of field fuzzy, dated 11/2/1873.
1/5 according to canister (marked 1/6 inside): with 1/4 dry front, ~30x, very good, dated 11/3/1868 [date misread]; with 1/5 dry front, 140 d., ~40x, equal to modern lens; with 1/5 water front, ~40x, fine, but not as flat.
2" not tested but very clean.
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In Collection(s)
Signedone eyepiece: PAT'D Sept: 25, 1855.
on solid eyepiece: Paten'd Sept. 25, 1855.
on objective, 1/12 inch: TOLLES
on objective, 1/12 inch, on blackened top edge above threads: 73 x 11 x 2
on objective, 1/5 inch for water: TOLLES
on objective, 1/5 inch for water, on blackened top edge above threads: (3d) 68 x 3 x 17
on objective, 2 inch: Tolles
dated on objective, 2 inch, on side of top edge above threads: 60 x 11 x 13
on 1/4 inch dry front lens for objective: TOLLES
on solid eyepiece: Paten'd Sept. 25, 1855.
on objective, 1/12 inch: TOLLES
on objective, 1/12 inch, on blackened top edge above threads: 73 x 11 x 2
on objective, 1/5 inch for water: TOLLES
on objective, 1/5 inch for water, on blackened top edge above threads: (3d) 68 x 3 x 17
on objective, 2 inch: Tolles
dated on objective, 2 inch, on side of top edge above threads: 60 x 11 x 13
on 1/4 inch dry front lens for objective: TOLLES
Inscribedon case lock: J.T. Begner / Boston / 1
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.