A Beautiful Thumb Microscope, 1879

JF Ptak Science Books   Quick Post

[Source: Nature, 6 February 1879]

This is just so splendid, I had to stop and admire it, publicly.  The design of the front page of Nature is a lovely thing in itself, and the placement, and spacing, it all works so well together. But the big treat of course is the "Browning New Miniature Microscope", which we are told is in 1:1 scale. It "may also be carried in the waistcoat pocket" if only I could remember where my waistcoat was.  The instrument was good for 15x and 35x, and came prepared with tiny foreceps to hold natural objects, but it was also of course built to accept miniature slides.  Just for the record, 19th century microscope slides are generally things of high beauty--miniature microscope slides from that time are quite simply the bee's knees. 

The Browning scope came complete, with fitted case, for three pounds. Nowadays the same instrument in lovely condition  might bring $3000--and worth it. 

Comments

[Charles]

That reminds me of the Emoskop. Oh I have lusted for an Emoskop for years. Everyone needs a pocket microscope/telescope. Well, I do at least.

http://www.submin.com/binocular/collection/seibert/emoskop_b.htm

[John F. Ptak]

I like pocket-anythings. The only thing that we really have here pocket-sized is a spectroscope that Santa brought for Tess last season. Oh--and some nice mini binoculars that are *very bright*, Japanese ca. 1955. Anyway, I'd like a nice pocket micro too.