Accession No

0825

Brief Description

solar microscope, by Benjamin Martin, English, circa 1774

Origin

England; London

Maker

Martin, Benjamin

Class

microscopes

Earliest Date

1774

Latest Date

1774

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass); glass; ivory

Dimensions

height 325mm; max diameter 120mm; mirror length 430mm; breadth 195mm; height 73mm; eyepiece length 172mm; breadth 113mm; depth 62mm; side plate length 142mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from T.H. Court, Harrow, England, in 04/1937.

Inscription

‘B. MARTIN, Invt. et Fecit. LONDINI. No.35’ (signed on plate)

Description Notes

Brass; square brass plate with threaded central aperture; lugs to rectangular brass framed mirror; sits on circular racked support moved by knurled screw on plate; second knurled screw rotates mounting; 3 screw holes for attachment to shutter (no screws extant); screw fit conical body; condenser lens in a brass cell; draw tube with [condenser] lens; screw fit transparent - object body; brass spring being on a 2 part brass stage moved by rack and pinion (pinion missing); [condenser] lens in stage plate; screw fit [megaloscope] lens; push fit opaque - object body hinged door to diagonal mirror with external screw for adjustment; push fit objective with 2 lenses; one on long screw inside box; one with screw fit cover outside box; ivory plate behind brass mount with knurled screw for adjusting pressure; slider with six objectives.

References

Events