Newton & Co. large compound microscope
Date: circa 1884
Inventory Number: 1152
Classification: Microscope
Dimensions:microscope: 35.5 × 15 × 19.8 cm (14 × 5 7/8 × 7 13/16 in.)
case: 29.1 × 23.8 × 16.4 cm (11 7/16 × 9 3/8 × 6 7/16 in.)
box: 35.6 × 22.2 × 25.4 cm (14 × 8 3/4 × 10 in.)
Accessories: objectives (3) and canisters (3); oculars (2); a polarizer; a glass slide; a brass slide with a live box; a stage forceps; case; and key.
DescriptionThis is a Newton & Co. large compound microscope. It has a monocular body with one draw tube, a square post held by two flat pillars, and a clawfoot base. The coarse adjustment is by rack and pinion. Fine focus is by a knob attached to the body tube and operating a lever.
There is a square mechanical stage. A slide with with a wheel of aperture stops is fitted beneath the stage. There is also a substage plano-concave mirror mounted to a sleeve that moves up and down a round post.
This microscope is accompanied by a standing mahogany case for storage. The door is no longer attached. Wood fittings are split.
Accessories include 2 oculars (unmarked), 2 unsigned objectives (one with bent threads), both with canisters (one marked 1 inch Newton & Co.); an objective signed "W. Wales / N. Y." with an adaptive collar to work with the Newton microscope; an empty Zeiss canister marked "1/12 / n.A. 1.3"; a polarizer; a glass slide; a brass slide with a live box; a stage forceps; and a steel key.
Signedon base: NEWTON & CO. / Opticians, / 3 Fleet Street, / Temple Bar, / LONDON.
on canister, 1 inch objective: Newton & Co. / 3 Fleet St. / London
on empty canister: CARL ZEISS / JENA [in achromat logo]
on a spare objective: W. Wales, / N. Y.
on trade card pasted in case: NEWTON & CO. / Opticians, / Mathematical, Philosophical, & Astronomical / INSTRUMENT MAKERS, / GLOBE MANUFACTURERS, / to her Majesty / [effaced text] / [FLEET STREET] [effaced text] NEAR TEMPLE BAR.
on trade card nailed to inside of door: BOSTON OPTICAL WORKS . . . / CHARLES X. DALTON, / (SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE R. B. TOLLES) / MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN / New and Second-hand / Microscopes, Telescopes and Accessories. / 40 HANOVER STREET, ROOM 1 / BOSTON / Prompt and skilful attention given to repairing Telescopes, Microscopes, / Analytical Balances and other Scientific Apparatus. / A LIST OF TOLLES OBJECTIVES ALWAYS ON HAND.
Historical AttributesNote by Dr. Lewis reads as follows: " A base much like Tolles-Brunow in shape. Presented by Dr. M. F. Yates, Nov. 15, 1935. Formerly owned by Dr. Augustus Thorndike, A.B. 1884; M.D. 1888 (both Harvard); Instructor in orthopedics '09-'13; associate in orthopedic surgery '13-'16; instructor (in the same) '16-'17."
ProvenanceDr. Augustus Thorndike, Cambridge, MA; Dr. M. F. Yates; gift to Ernst-Lewis Collection of Microscopes (inv. no. 152), Harvard Medical School, November 15 1935.