Accession No

6673

Brief Description

microscope slide preparation stage, with prepared specimens, 19th Century

Origin

Maker

Class

natural history; optical

Earliest Date

1800

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

wood; metal; velvet; plastic

Dimensions

130mm (width) x 98mm (depth) x 73mm (height)

Special Collection

Michael J. Clark Bequest

Provenance

Inscription

Description Notes

Microscope slide preparation rotating stage, with prepared specimens, C19th.

A varnished, hinged wooden box with brass clasp, containing a rotating stage setup and three brass canisters. The rotating stage is a brass contraption on a raised platform; turning the larger disk on the right enables careful rotation of the smaller stage (at a 1:1 rate). Different specimens mounted on small, pin-like objects can be inserted into the stage for rotation. The stage is attached to a flat brass panel, and the panel sits on a blue velvet base. Directly under the stage there is a small pearlescent white plastic button, maybe used to reflect light.

Behind the stage, there is a wooden rack with three velvet-lined holes where three brass canisters fit upright. A smaller brass cylinder is attached to the lid of each canister; this can be unscrewed and lifted out of the canister to reveal 24 numbered holes, each of which can accommodate a specimen "pin." Cylinders are kept centred within canister by fitting onto a central shaft fixed to the bottom of the canister. The canisters can hold 72 specimens (plus one on the stage), but currently only hold 49. Many specimen pins are in bad condition and have little or no material remaining on them besides glue.

There is also a set of metal tweezers used to grip and move the specimen pins.

Condition: fair

References

Events