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British Fixed-Mirror Monocular Microscope

Bearing an inscription that reads, "Brock Invenit et Fecit, London", this all-brass British microscope possesses standard features and was manufactured in the early 1800's. The model described below was redrawn from photographs of the original microscope, which is part of the Billings microscope collection at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC.

This beautiful monocular brass microscope is supported by an oval-shaped base that is drilled for bolting to a substrate such as a box or table. Optical components include a compound eye lens, a field lens, four accessory objectives, and a double mirror located on the optical axis. In addition, the outer tube appears to have several openings that are located just beneath the stage into which a condenser and forceps would have fitted. Focusing was achieved by moving the stage up and down along the outer tube by turning a knob on the rack and pinion mechanism. The body tube, which is only three and a half inches long, screws into a brass arm that protrudes from the pillar, and the objectives are positioned at the lower end of the body tube. Selection of one of four accessory objectives also provided the early microscopist with varying degrees of magnification. The microscope was manufactured by G. Brock of London and stands approximately 10 inches high.

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