Abbe Refractometer Carl Zeiss AG, Mid 20th Century.

Abbe refractometer made in Germany by Carl Zeiss AG in the mid 20th century. This curious device was designed for laboratory use and is a bench-top instrument for precision measurement of the index of refraction. The refractometer is in good condition and keeps all its original parts and components. Some pieces show slight signs of wear but even so the instrument keeps all its sober and functional beauty, being an item of undeniable decorative interest. It is made of black-lacquered cast iron with silvery metal mobile parts. The base is also made of iron and boasts a lovely dark red finish.An Abbe refractometer, also known as laboratory refractometer, is a bench-top device for scientific research. They are named after Ernst Abbe (1840-1905), a scientist working for Carl Zeiss AG in Jena (Germany) in the late 19th century. Abbe was the first to design a laboratory refractometer and the following ones evolved from his invention. This particular instrument was actually made by Carl Zeiss AG and we can see the companys name at the top, between the eyepieces, with the serial number 131318.A stated before, all this refractometers components are original. The lenses are in good condition and the oscillating mirror located at the bottom has a well-preserved side, while the other one shows some flaws in the quicksilver that usually appear in antique mirrors.This instruments balanced beauty and its undeniable quality are reason enough to turn it into an object of desire of any collector of scientific antiques.Measurements: Width: 180 mm. Height: 275 mm.