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Historical microscopes

Every microscope is described as fully as possible. This includes detailed information about the manufacturer, time period, optical data for the eyepieces and objectives, and other components. An English-language description of all of the microscopes is not yet available, but we are regularly improving our website and will add to the data and descriptions when possible.

Optical investigations (Dr. J. van Zuylen († 1995) and Dr. ir. J.C. Deiman)
A number of important optical parameters of the microscopes in the collection of the foundation have been investigated, notably the focal length and the magnification (eyepieces and the objective lenses) and the numerical aperture and the resolving power (objective lenses). The methods of measuring these parameters and the instruments used have been developed and partly described by Van Zuylen. Van Zuylen and Deiman did work together in the Utrecht University Museum during some 10 years, investigating and describing the microscopes from that collection. A chapter of Deiman’s thesis deals with this subject as well.

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Compound microscope after Marshall

MARSHALL

1680-1700

Simple compass microscope

VAN MUSSCHENBROEK

1690-1750

Compound non-achromatisch microscope after Culpeper

CULPEPER

ca. 1735

Compound non-achromatic microscope after Cuff

CUFF

ca. 1745

Simple Hartsoeker-Wilson (screw-barrel) type microscope

STERROP

1747-1756

Compound tripod microscope, Culpeper type

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1750-1780

Simple pocket microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1780-1850

Compound tripod microscope, Culpeper type

ADAMS

ca. 1750

Compound non-achromatic stem microscope on box

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1750-1800

Simple compass microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1750-1800

Simple microscope, box with lenses and components

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1750-1800

Simple botanical microscope after Withering

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1800

Compound non-achromatic microscope after Culpeper

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1790-1820

Compound non-achromatic ‘chest’ microscope

DOLLOND

1790-1830

Compound tripod microscope, type Nuremberg

IM

ca. 1800

Compound non-achromatic microscope

DOLLOND

1800-1830

Compound non-achromatic microscope

JONES

1800-1830

Simple stem microscope on box

SMITH

1811-1826

Compound drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1820-1870

Simple stem microscope on box

BANCKS

1820-1830

Simple stem microscope after Gould

CARY

1820-1850

Compound microscope after Gould (Cary type)

LONG

1821-1850

Compound achromatic microscope

ROCHETTE JEUNE

ca. 1825

Compound stem microscope after Gould

CARY

1825-1830

Compound non-achromatic microscope, Jones’ Most Improved

HARRIS

1825-1930

Compound achromatic drum microscope

CHEVALIER

1831-1841

Compound achromatic microscope

CHEVALIER

1840-1850

Compound non-achromatic drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1840-1890

Compound non-achromatic drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1840-1870

Simple stem microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1850

Compound achromatic microscope

AMADIO

ca. 1850

Simple stem microscope on box

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1850

Compound achromatic microscope

SCHOKKING

ca. 1880

Compound achromatic microscope

PRITCHARD

ca. 1850

Compound achromatic microscope

YEATES

1850-1870

Simple achromatic solar microscope

SECRETAN

1850-1880

Compound drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1850-1900

Compound drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1850-1890

Compound drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1850-1900

Compound drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1850-1900

Compound drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1850-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

NACHET

1856-1862

Compound achromatic microscope with Wenham binocular

SMITH, BECK & BECK

ca. 1857

Compound achromatic microscope with Wenham binocular

SMITH, BECK & BECK

1857

Compound achromatic microscope

ROBBINS

1860-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1860-1880

Compound achromatic student microscope

ARNOLD

1860-1880

Combined telescope and drum microscope

STATHAM

1860-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

CHADBURN BROS

1860-1880

Compound achromatic microscope with Wenham binocular

DIXEY

1860-1880

Compound microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1860-1890

Compound achromatic microscope with Wenham binocular

DOLLOND

1860-1880

Compound achromatic microscope

STEWARD

1860-1880

Compound achromatic drum microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1860-1900

Compound microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1860-1930

Compound achromatic microscope

NACHET

1862-1880

Compound microscope with Wenham binocular

BECK & BECK

1867

Compound achromatic microscope

HARTNACK & PRAZMOWSKI

1868-1871

Compound drum microscope

STEWARD

1868-1888

Compound achromatic drum microscope

BIANCHI

1869-1873

Compound achromatic microscope

CROUCH

1870-1890

Compound non-achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1870-1900

Compound achromatic travelling microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1870-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1870-1900

Compound achromatic microscope

CROUCH

1870-1890

Simple dissecting microscope

BAKER

1870-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

CROUCH

1870-1880

Simple achromatic dissecting microscope

ZEISS

1870

Compound non-achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1870

Compound achromatic microscope

HARTNACK & PRAZMOWSKI

1870-1880

Compound achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1870-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

HARTNACK & PRAZMOWSKI

1870-1880

Compound achromatic microscope

RABE

1874-1910

Compound achromatic microscope

HARTNACK & PRAZMOWSKI

1875-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1875-1900

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IIIb

ZEISS

ca. 1880

Compound achromatic microscope

RADIGUET

ca. 1880

Compound microscope

CAMPBELL

1880-1900

Compound microscope

BAKER

1880-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

SWIFT & SON

1881-1890

Compound achromatic microscope

COPPOCK

1882-1891

Compound achromatic microscope with Wenham binocular

ROSS

ca. 1883

Compound achromatic microscope, stand VII

ZEISS

1885-1886

Compound achromatic microscope, stand I

LEITZ

1886-1887

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IA

LEITZ

1886-1887

Compound achromatic microscope, ‘stand V’

LEITZ

1888

Compound achromatic travelling microscope

SWIFT & SON

1890-1920

Compound achromatic student microscope

SALMON

1880-1910

Compound achromatic microscope

ROSS

1890-1910

Simple pocket microscope ‘Midgard’

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1900

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IX

ZEISS

ca. 1890

Compound achromatic microscope ‘Star’

BECK & BECK

1890-1895

Compound achromatic microscope ‘Star’

BECK & BECK

1890-1895

Compound achromatic microscope, stand V1

ZEISS

1890

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IVa

ZEISS

ca. 1894

Compound achromatic microscope, ‘stand 3’

SEIBERT

1895-1900

Compound achromatic microscope, stand VIa

ZEISS

1896

Compound achromatic microscope, stand 55

BECK & BECK

1898

Compound achromatic microscope, No. 1 ‘Van Heurck’

WATSON & SONS

ca. 1900

Simple dissecting microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1900

Dissecting microscope with achromatic magnifier after Steinheil

LEITZ

1900-1930

Compound achromatic microscope

BAUSCH & LOMB

1900-1925

Compound achromatic microscope

SWIFT & SON

1900-1920

Pocket microscope with illumination lens

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

ca. 1900

Compound metal microscope Metaphot

BUSCH

1900-1930

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IVa

ZEISS

ca. 1902

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IA

LEITZ

1902

Compound achromatic microscope, stand V

LEITZ

1904

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IVa

ZEISS

1904

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IVb

ZEISS

ca. 1904

Compound achromatic microscope

BAUSCH & LOMB

1908-1909

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IIb

LEITZ

1908-1909

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IIb

LEITZ

1909

Compound achromatic microscope, stand III

LEITZ

1909

Compound achromatic microscope, stand III C

ZEISS

1910-1911

Compound achromatic microscope, stand VII

ZEISS

ca. 1910

Compound achromatic microscope, large stand

BUSCH

ca. 1910

Compound achromatic polarisation microscope

FUESS

ca. 1910

Compound achromatic microscope, stand I B

ZEISS

1913-1914

Compound achromatic microscope, stand C

LEITZ

ca. 1917

Compound achromatic microscope

PRIOR & CO.

1920-1930

Compound achromatic microscope

BUSCH

1920-1930

Compound achromatic microscope, stand III D

ZEISS

1921

Compound achromatic microscope

WINKEL

ca. 1921

Compound achromatic microscope, probably stand B

ZEISS

ca. 1923

Compound achromatic microscope ‘Service’

WATSON & SONS

1924

Compound achromatic microscope

FOTH

ca. 1925

Compound achromatic microscope, stand H

REICHERT

ca. 1925

Compound achromatic microscope

REICHERT

ca. 1925

Compound achromatic microscope, type ESC

ZEISS

1925-1932

Compound achromatic microscope with binocular tube

LEITZ

1929

Compound achromatic stereo microscope

OIP GAND

1930-1960

Compound achromatic metal microscope

OLDELFT

1930-1950

Compound projection microscope

BUSCH

1930-1945

Compound achromatic microscope, L-stand

ZEISS

ca. 1932

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ESG

ZEISS

ca. 1932

Simple toy microscope

MECCANO

ca. 1933

Compound achromatic microscope

LEITZ

ca. 1934

Compound achromatic polarisation microscope, stand III M

LEITZ

1936-1937

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ‘Kima’

WATSON & SONS

1938

Compound achromatic microscope, stand S

BLEEKER

1939-1948

Microscope for detecting Trichinella spiralis

MIKRO KORTH BERLIN

1940-1943

Stereo microscope after Greenough

OLDELFT

1945-1955

Compound achromatic microscope ‘Service’

WATSON & SONS

1947

Compound achromatic microscope, stand M10 BK

WILD

ca. 1949

Compound achromatic microscope, stand RC

REICHERT

1947

Compound achromatic reflecting microscope OD200

OLDELFT

1948-1952

Compound achromatic reflecting microscope OD200

OLDELFT

1948-1952

Compound achromatic microscope, stand CSM

REICHERT

ca. 1950

Compound achromatic microscope, stand S

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, stand S, opened

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, binocular tube, type ´Universal´

OIP GAND

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, type S, phase contrast

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, type S, binocular tube

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Achromatic projection microscope

MARUPET M

ca. 1960

Compound achromatic microscope, probably ‘Standard GFL’

WINKEL

ca. 1950

Kilfitt measuring microscope

KILFITT

1950-1960

Inspection microscope

BECK KASSEL CBS

1950-1970

Compound achromatic microscope, stand S, with binocular tube

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, stand S, phase contrast

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope on box

BLEEKER

1950-1960

Compound reflecting microscope OD400

OLDELFT

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ‘Laborlux’

LEITZ

1951-1952

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ‘SM’

LEITZ

1955-1957

Compound achromatic microscope, Biozet stand

REICHERT

1955-1965

Compound achromatic microscope, stand BTC

WINKEL

1955-1957

Compound achromatic microscope

RATHENOWER OPTISCHE WERKE

ca. 1955-1965

Compound achromatic microscope, ‘Standard GFL’

ZEISS

1955-1960

Compound achromatic pseudoscopic microscope

BLEEKER

1955-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, stand M11

WILD

1955-1960

Compound microscope

FODOR

ca. 1955

Compound achromatic microscope, ‘Standard Junior KFT’

ZEISS

1955-1960

Compound achromatic microscope

PIKA TOKYO

1955-1965

Compound achromatic pseudoscopic microscope

BLEEKER

1955-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, stand HS

OLYMPUS

1955-1965

Compound achromatic microscope, stand HS

OLYMPUS

1955-1965

Compound achromatic microscope, stand HS

OLYMPUS

1955-1965

Compound achromatic microscope

OIP GAND

1955-1965

Microscope with accessories

JENOR

1955-1960

Compound achromatic polarisation microscope, stand BS

LEITZ

1956

Compound inverted metallurgical microscope, stand ME

OLYMPUS

1956-1965

Compound achromatic microscope, McArthur type

COOKE, TROUGHTON & SIMMS

1959-1962

Compound achromatic microscope, stand Ortholux

LEITZ

1959-1960

Compound achromatic stereo microscope

МБС (MBS)

1960-1970

Compound achromatic microscope, stand K

BLEEKER

ca. 1960

Compound achromatic microscope, M2000 stand

COOKE, TROUGHTON & SIMMS

1950-1960

Compound achromatic microscope, stand M

BLEEKER

1962-1965

Compound microscope

LUCTOR BAARN

ca. 1960

Compound achromatic projection microscope

LEITZ

1960-1970

Compound microscope

LUCTOR BAARN

ca. 1960

Achromatic projection microscope

MARUPET M

ca. 1960

Compound achromatic projection microscope

LEITZ

1960-1980

Compound achromatic microscope, stand K

BLEEKER

ca. 1960

Compound achromatic microscope

MEOPTA

1960-1980

Compound achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1960-1970

Compound achromatic microscope, stand M

BLEEKER

1962-1965

Reversed microscope, type W, binocular tube

BLEEKER

ca. 1962

Compound achromatic workshop microscope

BLEEKER

ca. 1962

Compound achromatic microscope, binocular tube, type Neopan

REICHERT

ca. 1963

Compound achromatic microscope after McArthur

VICKERS

1963-1969

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ‘Standart 14’

ZEISS

1964-1970

Stereo microscope

LOMO / ZENITH

1960-1970

Compound achromatic microscope, stand M40

WILD

1965-1970

Compound achromatic microscope, stand PM 1

ZEISS

ca. 1965

Compound achromatic microscope, stand R

BLEEKER

ca. 1965

Compound achromatic ‘field’ microscope

MEOPTA

1965-1980

Compound achromatic microscope, stand R

BLEEKER

ca. 1965

Compound achromatic microscope, stand EH

OLYMPUS

1965-1970

Compound achromatic microscope, stand R

BLEEKER

ca. 1965

Compound achromatic microscope, stand EC

OLYMPUS

1965-1975

Compound achromatic microscope, stand EC

OLYMPUS

1965-1975

Compound achromatic microscope, stand EC, opened

OLYMPUS

1965-1975

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ST

OLYMPUS

ca. 1970

Compound achromatic microscope, binocular tube, type Ergaval

ZEISS

ca. 1970

Compound achromatic microscope, binocular tube, type SM-D Lux

LEITZ

ca. 1970

Compound achromatic microscope

ZEISS

1970-1980

Compound achromatic microscope

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1970-1980

Compound achromatic microscope, stand IV, replica

EMO-OPTIK

1970

Compound achromatic microscope

ERMA

1970-1990

Compound achromatic microscope

ERMA

1970-1990

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ‘Orthoplan’

LEITZ

1970-1971

Compound achromatic microscope

ERMA

1970-1990

Compound achromatic microscope, stand SAA

ONBEKEND/UNKNOWN

1970-1990

Compound achromatic folding microscope

AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY

ca. 1973

Compound achromatic projection microscope ‘Visopan’

REICHERT

1972

Compound achromatic microscope, stand CHC

OLYMPUS

1976-1986

Compound achromatic microscope, stand ‘Orthoplan’

LEITZ

1980-1982

Compound achromatic microscope, Mbu-4 stand

ZENITH

ca. 1982

Compound achromatic fluorescence microscope, stand Axioskop

ZEISS

ca. 1990