Accession No

6042

Brief Description

The Open University McArthur microscope, by Scientific Optics Ltd., English; late 20th Century

Origin

England; Sussex; Hastings; Ponswood Industrial Estate

Maker

Scientific Optics Ltd.

Class

microscopes

Earliest Date

1974

Latest Date

1974

Inscription Date

Material

plastic (at least three types); metal (copper, stainless steel); glass; styrofoam; cardboard; paper

Dimensions

microscope dimensions: length 127mm; height 76mm; width 21mm box dimensions: length 221mm; width 122mm; height 54mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated on or before 16/3/2005. Originally purchased by the donor for his son as a starter microscope; neither the donor nor his son studied at the Open University.

Inscription

‘McARTHUR MICROSCOPE The Open University Model Patent applied for’ (side of microscope)
‘01501’(back of microscope)
‘DIRECT VIEW
ELECTRIC VIEW
EXTERNAL LIGHTING
PRESS TO OPEN’ (on black plastic battery cover)
(Inscriptions on box)
‘The Open University McArthur Microscope’;
‘Actual Size’;
‘Butterfly wing scales x80’;
Butterfly wing scales x200’;
‘Manufactured in England by SCIENTIFIC OPTICS LIMITED. Ponswood Industrial Estate., Hastings, Sussex. Manufactued under licence from, The Open University, Walton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks. Patents applied for.’;
‘CONTENTS:- 1 Microscope. 2 Plain Slides. 1 Specimen Slide. & Instruction Booklet. Batteries not included.’

Description Notes

The Open University McArthur Microscope in styrofoam-fitted cardboard box; by Scientific Optics; English; late 20th century

White plastic microscope decorated with the coat of arms of the Open University on either side. The eyepiece is set in black plastic on the top, there are two objectives that can be interchanged via a black plastic sliding handle. Below this handle is a black plastic focusing wheel. Above the handle is the light aperture. There are three settings to allow light onto the stage: direct light; an external source directed onto the stage by a mirror or an internal light bulb. The settings can be changed by a black plastic switch on the top of the microscope. The black plastic casing for this switch can be pressed down to reveal a compartment for two batteries (no batteries in object). The switch is black plastic attached to a light bulb and a stainless steel strip bent into a V-shape, one side of the V is reflective and the side reflecting the light bulb is painted white.

The box has a cardboard cover that can slide off to reveal an instruction booklet on top of the Styrofoam fitting. The microscope fits inside this, on top of an inspection certificate with a complaint slip on its reverse side. There are two other compartments in the fitting that are empty. A small piece of clear plastic is loose in the box and is presumably the remains of a missing clip to hold the slides in place on the stage.

Condition: good; incomplete

References

Events