Museu do Microscópio

Coleção de microscópios antigos e outros instrumentos científicos

 

      

Microscópio 555 (J. W. Bailey; microscópio portátil; 1880s)

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O microscópio 555 não está assinado, mas é idêntico ao microscópio portátil de Bailey descrito no volume de 1883 do Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society (Figura 1). Este microscópio mereceu os seguintes comentários do jornal: “The possible variations in the form of portable microscopes might be supposed to be pretty well exhausted, but Mr. J. W. Bailey has been able to adapt to the instrument … some ingenious points of novelty which make it very portable and at the same time steady … the stage is turned upwards on a cradle joint against the limb, the two legs, which move with it, then being also parallel with the limb. On closing together the legs (which turn on pivots fixed underneath the stage) and sliding the body-tube down, the instrument is reduced to 11.5 in. by 3 in. by 2.5 in. A milled head behind the stage secures it if desired. The instrument can be used in a vertical position by bringing forward the legs on their hinge joints, so that they project in front of the stage and mirror”. O espelho original do instrumento está ausente. O mesmo microscópio é descrito em Bracegirdle (2005) A catalogue of the microscopy collections at the science museum, London, Little Imp Publications. J. W. Bailey corresponde a John William Bailey, um ótico que tinha uma loja na 162 Fenchurch Street, Londres.

 

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Figura 1. Microscópio portátil de Bailey tal como retratado no volume de 1883 do Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society (pp. 697).