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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
38C (R & J
Beck; improved continental microscope, with substage; c. 1900) R & J Beck
occupy an especially important place in the history of the British microscope
manufacturing with its beginning established in London, by Richard Beck (1827
- 1866) in association with James Smith (1800 – 1873), and later to be joined
by his brother Joseph Beck. Richard and Joseph Beck were nephews of Joseph
Jackson Lister, who was a respected British optician and physicist who
experimented with achromatic lenses and perfected an optical microscope. In
commissioning the manufacture of his improved microscope, Lister worked with
James Smith, an employee of the instrument-making firm of William Tulley, to
create the stand. James Smith went on to establish his own optical
instruments workshop in 1837. Through this relationship, Lister arranged for
his nephew, Richard Beck to be an apprentice under Smith in 1843. In 1847,
James Smith entered into partnership with Richard Beck, and the company was
re-named Smith & Beck. In 1854, the company was renamed to Smith,
Beck and Beck, as Richard Beck's brother Joseph Beck joined the company
in 1851. James Smith retired in 1865 and the company became R & J Beck
and this name lasted for long time. In 1866, Richard Beck died at an early
age of 39, and Joseph Beck carried on the business. In 1895 the company
became a limited partnership (R & J Beck Ltd). By 1968, the
company was a subsidiary of the Ealing Corporation of USA. In 2019, Beck
Optronic Solutions Ltd is a descendent of the former R & J Beck Ltd.
Microscope 38C is from R & J Beck Ltd, date from c. 1900, and is known as
improved continental microscope, with substage (Figure 1). These are compound
microscopes made from lacquered brass with a continental horseshoe base which
is solid brass. The substage double-sided mirror, which includes a concave
side, is attached via a gimbal arm to a swinging tailpiece that is connected
to the pillar. The square, mechanical stage is painted black and has two
metal clips to secure a specimen. There are two holes on both corners of the
stage in which accessories such as stage forceps can be attached. The coarse
focusing functions via a rack and pinion mechanism which moves the body tube
closer or further away from the stage. Includes a substage with focussing and
swinging adjustments, Abbe condenser and iris diafragm. The fine focusing
mechanism is controlled by a thumbscrew located at the top of the pillar. The
serial number of microscope 38C is 27848. Figure 1.
Beck’s improved continental microscope with substage as engraved in the
company’s 1894 catalogue. Reference R
& J Beck (1894) Illustrated catalogue of microscopes James
Smith, 1800 – 1873 (http://microscopist.net/SmithJ.html),
last accessed on 12.08.2020 R.
and J. Beck (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/R._and_J._Beck),
last accessed on 12.08.2020 LAST EDITED: 15.08.2020 |