Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

    

Microscope 1 (Frieseke & Hoepfner; c. 1950)

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Frieseke & Hoepfner was founded in 1939, in Erlangen (Germany) with the purpose of producing aeronautical equipment. In 1945, the factory in Erlangen was used by the Americans to repair and construct military vehicles. The company restarted in 1948 producing hydraulics and control equipment and, in 1955, started its integration in the FAG group in Schweinfurt. It is unclear when Frieseke & Hoepfner decided to venture into microscope production and, although the high quality of their microscopes, most probably this branch of the business did not prosper as very few of their microscopes are known. Microscope 1, from Frieseke & Hoepfner, has the serial number 795 and several technical aspects of these microscopes were patented between 1948 and 1951. Judging by the appearance of the instrument and the company history, this microscope can be dated to c. 1950.

References

Peter Guidotti. Frieseke & Hoepfner Microscope, An interesting model from a little-known maker (http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artaug18/pg-Frieseke_und_Hoepfner_microscope.pdf), last accessed on 12.08.2020

LAST EDITED: 15.08.2020