Accession No

0742

Brief Description

solar microscope, by J. and W. Watkins, English, 1791-1808

Origin

England; London; Charing Cross

Maker

J. and W. Watkins

Class

microscopes

Earliest Date

1791

Latest Date

1808

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, steel); glass; ivory; wood

Dimensions

box length 248mm; breadth 160mm; height 87mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased from L.H. Spero, Harrow, England, in 08/1933.

Inscription

‘J & W Watkins Charing
Cross London’

Description Notes

Brass; square plate with circular inner ring; pinned to rectangular mirror mounted on racked semicircle and moved by key headed screw; second key headed screw rotates racked circle and mirror; 2 screw holes with 2 knurled screws for attachment to shutter; screw fit body with condenser lens; draw tube; screw fit screw barrel type transparent-object body with rack focus; 2 part brass stage with steel spring; 6 objective slider; live slide; 4 4-object ivory slides; ivory talc and ring box.
Fitted wooden case.

References

Events

Description
R.S. Whipple had a particular interest in the history of optical instruments, especially microscopes. Over the course of his life Whipple would acquire more than two hundred examples—nearly 20% of the objects in his collection. This is one of them, purchased in Harrow in 1933.
08/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 08/10/2025

Description
A solar microscope acts like a magic lantern, projecting a magnified image onto a screen where many could see it simultaneously. As such, they were commonly used for teaching.

It is worked in a dark room. The sun's rays fall on a plane mirror placed outside the room, and are reflected toward a condensing lens and then on to to a second lens by which they are concentrated at its focus. The object to be magnified is at this point, and its image is projected onto a screen beyond it.

FM:42972