PAUL WAECHTER WETZLAR MEAT INSPECTOR'S CASE MOUNTED MICROSCOPE TRICHINOSCOPE

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Payment | Shipping PAUL WAECHTER WETZLAR MEAT INSPECTOR'S CASE MOUNTED MICROSCOPE TRICHINOSCOPE Album Album Album Album Album Album Album Album Album AlbumPAUL WAECHTER WETZLAR MEAT INSPECTORS CASE MOUNTED MICROSCOPE / TRICHINOSCOPE Circa 1958You are invited to purchase a relatively rare vintage specialty microscope manufactured by the Paul Waechter Optical Firm in Wetzlar, Germany. Paul Waechter, a German optician trained by Zeiss, founded the optical firm that produced this microscope. This listing is for a Paul Waechter Portable Meat Inspectors Case Mounted Microscope or Trichinoscope (In German: Trichinoskop) with wood case.The microscope featured here is a highly portable - especially designed to be carried from site to site by meat inspectors. It was designed to be used for the examination of raw or lightly cooked pork (especially certain types of sausages) for the presence of Trichinae. Trichinella spiralis is a tiny nematode worm that is responsible for the serious parasitic disease, Trichinosis. Humans as well as dogs, cats, rats, and hogs can be infected and the cysts of Trichinella, which are found in raw or poorly cooked pork and in dead rats. In fact, an astonishing nearly 75% of dead rats are said to be infected with this parasite. Trichinosis is a very serious public health problem that has plagued mankind for centuries. The cause was finally discovered in the 1870s and specialty microscopes were developed mainly in Germany for the microscopic examination of pork and pork products (Germans love sausages made with pork) for the presence of the parasite. Zeiss, Leitz, Schieck and Waechter among others rushed to design microscopes to meet this new need.NOTE: See below for more information on the history of the development of this microscope type along with a brief history of the Paul Waechter optical firm.This instrument is signed on the front face of the body tube, P. Waechter, Wetzlar. This microscope mounts atop its wood case and is equipped with an extra large rectangular stage plate that normally accommodated a unique large dual plate glass compressorium for the examination of pork (Note: The glass plate compressorium is missing from this particular instrument package). During the meat inspection process, thinly cut samples of pork dissected from meat samples being inspected would be placed between the glass plates and compressed resulting in transparent specimens that could be examined microscopically for the presence of Trichinella cysts using this instrument.Neither the instrument nor its case bears a serial number. However, given the fact that the label on the body tube of the microscope identifies the location of manufacture as Wetzlar rather than Berlin, Berlin-Friendenau or Potsdam permits us to date the instrument to circa 1958 when the Paul Waechter firm was located in Wetzlar, Germany.Included with this listing is a catalogue cut of a very similar case mounted Trichinoscope that was produced by Leitz in 1905. Several other German microscope manufacturers including the Waechter firm copied this design, but added their own nuances. The Waechter model is similar to the Lietz model, but the case top does not tilt. Rather the Waechter microscope has a compass joint that allows the instrument itself to be tilted to various angles from the vertical when mounted atop its carrying case.DETAILED DESCRIPTION:The microscope can be broken down into several components and is fully contained within a horizontal wood case. The exterior dimensions of the wood case are 11.5 inches long by 6.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep. In the slightly offset center of the case lid is a recessed metal fitting into which the cylindrical shaped base of the microscope is fitted. The case was formerly fitted with a lock mechanism, but the lock and its key are missing. The case is also equipped with a pair of hook and pins that keep the case lid securely closed when the instrument is stored inside. In addition, the case has a brass handle on one end that allows it to be carried by hand from place to place. Inside the case are felt covered wood racks that hold the microscope, the large rectangular stage, and a glass compressorium (not included with this microscope).The microscope is set up for observations at the inspection site by extracting it from the case and installing it into the fitting at on top of the case lid. The large 80mm by 190mm rectangular stage is then installed onto the instrument sliding over a dovetailed base plate affixed to the limb of the microscope. Rising from the base of the microscope is a short rectangular pillar that terminates in a compass joint. The compass joint allows the instrument to be tilted to various angles from the vertical for the comfortable viewing of the compressed meat samples atop the stage. The stage includes a 12mm diameter center aperture, which permits light from the substage mirror to illuminate specimens placed atop the stage. This aperture is also recessed so it can accept a small diameter blue filter (not included).Under the stage is a 40mm diameter plano-concave mirror on an articulating mirror bar. The mirror bar can be manipulated to multiple angles to provide optimum illumination to the stage. Also under the stage is an iris diaphragm that controls the amount of light directed to the stage.Rising from the rear of the stage is a rectangular limb to which is attached the focusing mechanism and the body tube. Coarse focus is provided by an angled rack and pinion system. There is no fine focus mechanism and, given the relative low powers used, there is no real need for a fine focus system on this microscope.The metal body tube of the microscope includes an upper brass segment. A single eyepiece (unmarked as to power, but estimated to be 10x) is provided. A unique dual objective assembly is affixed to the lower end of the body tube just above the stage. A label pasted to the underside of the case lid with the title in German, Vergrosserungen, (magnifications) indicates that two (2) objective lenses are provided. A fixed low power lens is found at the base of the body tube. This lens provides a magnification of 40x. When the secondary lens is rotated into place a magnification of 100x is provided.When the microscope is set up for observations on top its case it stands about 13 inches tall. The microscope + its case weighs 5 pounds making for a very portable instrument for use by meat inspectors under field conditions.STATEMENT OF CONDITION:NOTE: The images that accompany this listing are a part of this statement of condition and should be used to augment and support the narrative that follows. Please take the time to view all of the images to confirm the condition of the instrument and to see what you will be getting should you be the fortunate new owner of this specialty microscope.This microscope is in overall very good to excellent condition and is fully functional. In fact, it can still be used for microscopic investigations of meat to this day. There are a few minor scratches on the metal parts all of which are to be expected for a working microscope of this vintage.The optics are in excellent condition with no defects evident. The plano-concave mirror is in excellent condition, providing very good illumination to the stage.The mechanics associated with the microscope are in good condition. The rack and pinion focus mechanism works as designed, but there are a couple of rough spots on the rack. The iris diaphragm under the stage also operates smoothly.The wood case is in good serviceable condition, but with some surface imperfections characteristic of its age and its evident history of daily use by a meat inspector. As noted above, the lock and its key are missing from the case. Also, the instrument lacks the glass compressorium that would be used to hold the meat samples for inspection.This microscope will be a very nice and valued addition to any vintage/antique microscope collection especially in light of its specialty status. This microscopes design for portability and the examination of pork for Trichinae forms a unique niche role in the history of the development of the microscope as an important aid in the protection of the public health.ABOUT THE MANUFACTURER:Carl Friedrich Paul Waechter (1846 - 1893) was trained to be an optician and mechanic at the famous Zeiss Optical Works in Jena, Germany. In 1872, Waechter founded his own optical workshop at Köpnicker Strasse No. 115, Berlin. In the year 1886, Waechter published advertisements for his microscopes in the scientific literature that included the phrase, Student of Dr. Zeiss. His earlier instruments were signed in script on the body tube either, Paul Waechter in Berlin or more simply, Paul Waechter, Berlin.By the year 1890, demand for his microscopes had increased to such and extent that he moved his workshop to larger facilities in Friedenau, Berlin, first at Albe Strasse 21 and then at Nied Strasse 19. The company remained at Friedenau on into the early years of the 20th Century. At this time, the business was named Optische Werkstaette Paul Waechter and microscope catalogues published by the firm bore that name. After the year 1890, the microscopes produced by the firm were signed, Optische Werkstaette Paul Waechter Berlin-Friedenau or more simply, Paul Waechter, Friedenau. This change is often helpful in dating instruments produced by this company. However, some of his instruments were unsigned and may have been intended for sale by distributors under private label merchandizing agreements.Between the years 1872 and 1892, Waechter produced over 20,000 microscopes, mostly for the examination of trichinae in meat. It was the famous scientist, Rudolph Virchow (1821 1902) who, in circa 1870, succeeded in inducing various German states to make compulsory the testing of pork for Trichinosis in abattoirs (slaughter houses). Waechter, Schieck, Leitz, Messter and several other German microscope manufacturers designed and produced microscopes especially to meet this need. In fact, Waechter had one of his designs that had a rotating circular glass compressorium patented (German Patent No. 11727). Many of these instruments were exported outside of Europe including to the USA. In fact, for a time, the Waechter firm had the Heil Company as its representative in the United States.After the death of Waechter in 1893, his longtime assistant, Herr Puchler, directed the company. Later, Puchler and another master mechanic, Paul Prasser, formed a partnership and continued operations of the business on into the early years of the 20th Century. Sometime after the turn of the century (exact date uncertain), the optical workshop was moved from Berlin to Potsdam in the former German State of Prussia. At that time, instruments were signed, Paul Waechter, Potsdam or Optische Werkstaette Paul Waechter, Potsdam. By the mid-1930s, the business was taken over by the Pridat family. Operations of the firm appear to have been suspended during and immediately after the Second World War.In March of 1958, the company again reappeared on the scene when the registered office of the company moved to Wetzlar, Germany. Microscopes produced by the firm in the 1960s and 1970s were signed "P. Waechter, Wetzlar." In addition, the wood cases that contained the instruments were often labeled with the inscription "Paul Waechter, Optik und Feinmechanik. Rodheim-BIEBER (Kreiss Wetzlar)." There is also some evidence that some of the microscopes signed "P. Waetcher. Wetzlar" were manufactured by Karl Zanger & Söhne in Weilburg, Germany located about 15 km from Wetzlar.PURCHASE:THE MONTANA LOGGER is very pleased to offer this vintage specialty microscope by Paul Waechter of Wetzlar, Germany for a very reasonable Buy-It-Now cost. We will also entertain reasonable offers for this microscope.NOTE: WE WARMLY WELCOME INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS/BUYERS. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE.PAYMENT: Payment via PayPal is due within 3 days of purchase. Prompt payment is always very much appreciated.Payment Back to TopI accept the following forms of payment: PayPalShipping & Handling Back to TopUS Shipping$0.00 USPS Parcel Post®International Shipping$76.50 USPS Priority Mail International (Worldwide)$48.98 USPS Priority Mail International (Canada)FREE scheduling, supersized imagesand templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager. FREE scheduling, supersized imagesand templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager.Over 100,000,000 served. Double your traffic. read more

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