Accession No

6755

Brief Description

microscope, microscopic slides, and Foraminifera specimens belonging to Charles Elcock, by Charles Elcock, Irish, mid-19th to early 20th Century

Origin

Ireland [now Northern Ireland]; Belfast

Maker

Elcock, Charles [slide preparator for most slides] Swift, J. Collins Lawley, W. [microscope lenses]

Class

microscopes; ; earth science

Earliest Date

1834

Latest Date

1910

Inscription Date

Material

wood; metal; glass; paper

Dimensions

[Microscope Case] length 225mm, width 180mm, height 435mm [Microscope] length 165mm, width 205mm, height 415mm [Microscopic slide cases] length 203mm, width 190mm, height 83mm length 207mm, width 105mm, height 46mm [Foraminifera specimen circles] (big) diameter 47mm, height 19mm (small) diameter 20mm, height 9mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from an antique dealer on 29 November 2021.

Inscription

[Microscope lenses]
"1/5 in
J. Swift
London"

"COLLINS
1in
LONDON"

"1/2 in
W. Lawley
78 Farringdon St
E.C."

[Microscopic slide case "Diatom"]
"STANLEY,
OPTICIAN
RAILWAY APPROACH,
LONDON BRIDGE S.T."

Description Notes

The Charles Elcock's microscope, microscopic slides, and Foraminifera specimens, English, 19th-20th century.

[Foraminifera specimens]
A total of 91 circle boxes, containing foraminifera specimens. Most of the boxes are labelled with hand-written names of the specimens, such as "Planorbulina Mediterranensis" and "Spiroloculina depressa".

[Microscope in a wooden case]
A microscope with a wooden base, the maker unknown. Three lenses are stored inside the case. The door cannot be locked (key not present). A black paper box containing several preparation tools to prepare microscopic slides is also stored inside the case.

[Microscopic slides case "Diatom"]
Wooden case containing 12 trays of microscopic slides, presenting mostly Foraminifera samples with labels of names. Other contents also include "water scorpion" and "water mosquito". Six trays of microscopic slides, mostly empty, are stored separately.

[Microscope lenses]
Three sets of lenses (1/5, 1, 1/2 inch) from different makers (J. Swift, W. Lawley, and Collins) and other pieces without marking are stored separately from the wooden case. One of the lens (of W. Lawley) has Elcock's initials

References

Events