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Baker No. 2 Victorian Antique Brass Microscope – 1860
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Baker No. 2 Victorian Antique Brass Microscope – 1860
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No. 2 Compound Brass Monocular Microscope by Baker – circa 1860 This nice example of the number 2 stand by Baker is mentioned in early editions of "The Microscope" by Hogg, where it is "well recommended for medical purposes where a good stand is required." It is signed on the base, "Baker, 244 High Holborn, London, " and measures over 16" tall in closed position. This is no lightweight Society of Arts student microscope; rather, it is a heavy, substantial scope used by professionals or wealthier amateurs during the Victorian Era, weighing in the vicinity of 20 pounds in its case. This all-brass microscope is finished in its original lacquer with complete coverage in fine condition. It has not been polished or refinished, and has the fine aged golden color you see in the better kept brass microscopes of the era, but of course has typical age spotting and some streaking (if you are a collector, you know this is typical for scopes kept in original condition). The foot of the stand and the stage are finished in lacquered, machined/scribed brass. Coarse focus is rack and pinion in a sturdy squared channel. Fine focus is a nosepiece type with a micrometer knob located behind the optical tube. The microscope comes with a full mechanical stage with lateral movements and rotating slide tray. All controls are in fine operating condition. The 2 ¼" diameter plano-concave mirror is excellent on both sides with no significant signs of age wear. Four objective lenses (no scratches/chips/gouges or cloudiness observable) with focal lengths of ¼”, ½”, 1 ½”, and 3”come in brass canisters marked with Baker’s name on the top in script. The cannisters look nice inside and on the top where the script is, but have lost some of their original glossy lacquer appearance on the outer cylindrical sides (see photo) (probably because of long-term storage/removal/insertion in their mahogany wood receptacles in the case). Three occular lenses/eyepieces marked A, B, and D, respectively, complete the main optical system. Accessories include a standing bullseye condenser, a stage forceps, a brass lieberkuhn with polished silvered parabolic reflecting surface, a camera lucida used to reflect images from the microscope to paper for tracing (so cool I almost kept this attachment), and two sub-stage condenser plates--one with a wheel of stops and the other a polarizer (with what looks like the corresponding piece to be attached to the optical tube. The microscope disassembles to fit into its own compact mahogany case with interior accessory drawer, brass carry handle, and lock with key that works only half the time (there appears to be something loose in the lock mechanism itself, so sometimes the key will spin when the lock bolts don’t appear perfectly horizontal, while the remainder of the time it correctly turns the locking bolts...not that big a deal, considering many of these cases are missing keys and/or locks entirely). Inside is an original placard entitled, "Magnifying Powers of C. Baker’s Achromatic Objective glasses." (which indicates this microscope would have a 600-700 maximum magnification power with the included lenses). The case is in very fine usable condition, though (to be very discriminating) I can see inside what appears to be some newer glue lines, presumably a result of regluing the wooden pieces used to hold lenses and attachments in the microscope (it is extremely common for these small wooden pieces to fall loose over the years, and all parts of the case appear to be original mahogany). Overall, the microscope is an excellent example of the classic bar-limb style by one of England ’s premier manufactures--it’s no Powell & Lealand, but it’s a staple to include in any serious collection. I sold a similar Baker #2 microscope about a year ago...it was a nice microscope, but it had a missing screw, as well as having fewer lenses (the most expensive part of a microscope) and a lot less accessories...the one offered here pretty much has all the bells and whistles for a sco...
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