Microscopes : A Century of Progress
Object ID Number:
EH102215
Object Name:
Monocular Microscope
Manufactured from:
1895
Manufactured to:
1940
Description / History:
Spencer triple objective, monocular microscope with changeable lens in wooden box. Microscope parts include a triple turret with interchangeable 10x, 44x, 95x objective lenses, a mechanical stage, plano–concave mirror, and coarse and fine focus controls. The serial number indicates that it was shipped sometime between June 23, 1920 and May 23, 1921. Charles Spencer was the first American to successfully make microscopes in the United States, publishing his first catalog in 1838. The Spencer Company was incorporated in 1895, using the name Spencer Lens Company up until the 1940's when it was acquired by American Optical. According to the 1920 Catalog of Spencer Microscopes Microtomes and Accessories the Spencer Lens Co. manufactured high grade optical glass, photographic lenses and projection apparatus in addition to microscopes and microscope accessories.