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.
No results have been found.
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