Bausch & Lomb Brass Continental Microscope circa 1898.

This is a 19th century Masterpiece microscope made by Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. New York, Rochester NY, Chicago with Serial number 39875. It is a collector's item of the highest quality with interesting provenance. The microscope is constructed largely of highly finished heavy brass with top of the line optics.
The horseshoe type base is extra heavy brass to allow stability with microscope at full inclination. The pillar, consists of a rectangular massive brass column to support the body. A screw with a leaver topped with an ivory cover which serves to tighten or loosen the connections between the stage and body and allow for inclination. The Optical system consists of a brass Body tube with revolving double nose-piece, a Nickel-Chrome plated Draw tube graduated in single millimeters to 220 mm. The tube is adjustable in a cloth lined sleeve and is fitted with a single ocular and two objectives. The tubes are large 30mm in diameter, especially-constructed to permit a large cone of light to pass from the objective. Optical adjustments: Coarse adjustment by diagonal rack and pinion, moving a long prismatic slide accurately fitted, attached to the body. Fine adjustment by micrometer-screw silvered and graduated with 100 divisions, each representing a motion of the objective of 1/100 mm. This mechanism is based on Bausch's U.S. patent No. 577344 from Feb 16, 1897. The Revolving Slide Stage is 100mm (4 inch) in diameter. It is made of brass plate fitted with vulcanite top. Two stage clips hold the glass slide. Substage parts contain the Condenser lens, Iris diaphragm and mirror. The condenser is a Trapezoidal type with a large range of magnifying power from 30 to 800 diameters. Both condenser and diaphragm are attached to the upper substage and can be moved vertically or swing horizontally. The mirror is double-sided with the frame made of brass. It is attached to a swinging arm on the lower sustage and may be brought to any obliquity.
The well-known Bausch & Lomb optical company was founded by two German immigrants, John J. Bausch (1830-1926) and Henry Lomb (1828-1908). Although their association dates back to 1850, they did not formally establish a partnership until 1866. Beginning with the manufacture of eyeglass frames, they gradually expanded their lines of production to include reading glasses and pocket microscopes. In 1874, they produced their first compound microscope. By 1900, Bausch & Lomb had become the leading American manufacturer of microscopes and the third largest in the world after Ernst Leitz and Carl Zeiss.
The provenance of this microscope will be provided privately.