Microscopy Primer
Light and Color
Microscope Basics
Special Techniques
Digital Imaging
Confocal Microscopy
Live-Cell Imaging
Photomicrography
Microscopy Museum
Virtual Microscopy
Fluorescence
Web Resources
License Info
Image Use
Custom Photos
Partners
Site Info
Contact Us
Publications
Home

The Galleries:

Photo Gallery
Silicon Zoo
Pharmaceuticals
Chip Shots
Phytochemicals
DNA Gallery
Microscapes
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Birthstones
Religion Collection
Pesticides
BeerShots
Cocktail Collection
Screen Savers
Win Wallpaper
Mac Wallpaper
Movie Gallery

Culpeper-Style English Microscope

Culpeper-style microscopes were produced by a number of eighteenth century instrument makers including John Cuff, George Adams, Benjamin Martin, and Edward Nairne. The design illustrated below was probably made by George Adams (Senior) about 1760. An original version of the microscope was photographed and described by Gerard Turner in his excellent volume Collecting Microscopes.

This microscope adheres closely to classical Culpeper design, having a brass tripod limb supported by a wooden base. The draw tubes are covered in rayskin and gold-tooled velum. An elegantly styled turned wooded optical tube contains a brass insert, into which the eye lens is mounted. A set of interchangeable brass objectives screw into the nosepiece of the microscope located at the bottom of the body tube assembly. Other design features are similar to microscopes of the period with the exception of the square wooden base. Most Culpeper-style microscopes contained a pyramid-shaped box made of oak or mahogany, but this model deviates from the motif.

BACK TO EIGHTEENTH CENTURY MICROSCOPES

Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1998-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Last modification: Friday, Nov 13, 2015 at 01:18 PM
Access Count Since February 22, 2000: 46296
For more information on microscope manufacturers,
use the buttons below to navigate to their websites: