Antique English Compound Microscope. England, Circa 1880

Antique English compound microscope made in the late 19th century (circa 1880) and in very good condition. This lovely surveying instrument comes in its original storing case, made of solid mahogany wood and also finely preserved. The device is made of brass with iron side supports and mahogany wooden base. This item is in working order the lenses are clean and make it possible to watch samples. The microscope comes with some old-time samples, perfect for testing the lenses and enjoy watching them. The brass component parts are in great condition, with no traces of rust and preserving the original transparent protecting lacquer. The screws and mobile parts move fluidly; among them, the sample plate stands out for its curious design, which mounts a lever with a spring. The iron side supports are sturdy and reliable, preserving the original black paint in good condition. As for the storing case, the mahogany wood it is made of remains is wonderfully preserved and shows off a gorgeous antique French-polish finish. The wood keeps the fine reddish shade typical of this specie. The brass handle is original too and boasts an impeccable condition. Inside the case, at the top we can see the removable drawer which contains three ancient samples and some unused glass plates. For its beautiful look and great condition, this antique English compound microscope with storing case is a real collectors piece worthy to be shown in a special place. Measurements: Width: 14 cm. Height: 34 cm.Compound Microscopes Characteristics and History Compound microscopes differ from simple microscopes in that they mount more than one lens. By combining the lenses, these instruments enable more lens magnifications. The lens combination can magnify the size of the objects 2000 times, compared to the maximum of 250 times provided by a simple lens. Curiously enough, compound microscopes were invented before simple microscopes. This was because in those times it was not possible to create high-magnification lenses, so it was necessary to combine two or more lenses in order to get the needed magnification. The first compound microscope was developed around 1600 by two Dutch lens manufacturers, Zacharias and Hans Janssen.