A PORTABLE MICROSCOPE BY R & J BECK, CIRCA 1897construct...

Hammer

£180

A PORTABLE MICROSCOPE BY R & J BECK, CIRCA 1897

constructed in oxidised brass with lacquered brass fittings, signed on the 4½in. main tube as per title and numbered '19045', complete with alternate nose pieces, substage resolver, and plano-convex mirror, contained within baize lined leather case of issue -- 7in. (18cm.) wide

Christie's South Kensington, 2nd July 2002, lot 278.

Dr. Mill notes:

For the history of the Beck company see entry 102. This model was designed for field use and the condition of the case makes it clear that it has been used as such. The lenses are of standard form but the extremely compact stand is designed to fold up compactly and the two objectives and the second eyepiece screw on flanges fixed in the case.

There is no substage except for an iris and the relatively low power objectives (2” & 2/3”) coupled with a 15x ocular again emphasize the field use where high resolution of fine detail was not the object. Serial 19045

This is yet another example of the field microscope theme seen in no. 104, 110, and 111. The Production Book lists 19045 as a Star microscope - one of a batch made between August and September 1893 - obviously wrong. The delivery book lists 19045 as a type" 43* " date 20/9/05. The date is out of sequence the adjoining entries being for 1896 and 1893

Fine overall condition.