Description

Offered for sale is a gleaming example of an antique R & J Beck monocular microscope standing on a continental-type horseshoe foot in lacquered brass finish.  According to my R & J Beck instrument dating table, manufacture would have been in around 1910 with the instrument carrying serial number 28241. 

The condition of this example is exceptionally good, with hardly any age and use signs of wear to the lacquer finish that I can detect and a look that belies its true age.  This example has also got a good clean set objective lenses and eyepieces.  This example may well therefore be quite a sought-after classic model in view of the quality and very solid build, great condition, top manufacturer and overall completeness of the package.

Turning to the principal technical details of this quality continental-pattern monocular microscope, we have the following:

1)  Construction is a solid brass horseshoe foot in lacquered brass finish with single upright to the main pivot with tension adjustment and continental upper limb also in lacquered brass.  There’s a monocular eyepiece unit with chromed draw-tube that’s graduated for tube length, allowing it to be set quickly at the optimum 160, 170 etc  value depending on the optics being used.  There’s two good period eyepieces supplied as follows:

– No. 1 – 5x
– No. 4 – 10x

2)  The instrument’s main focus is controlled via a set of thumb-wheels located at the top of the limb which move the main brass optical tube – travel and focus are both very good with the optical tube holding in position as it should.  Fine focus is the continental type atop the rear pillar, with a single thumb-wheel working as it should with smooth action. 

The upper limb on this model of microscope is designed to tilt and there’s tension adjustment available at the pivot as may be required.  

3)  There’s some good clean objective lenses and a double turret, with objectives as follows:

– 16 mm 10x magnification by R & J Beck
– 3 mm 50x magnification by R & J Beck
– 1/12th inch NA 1.35 by Spencer – 100x magnification and immersion is required
(the objectives all have period-correct brass canisters)

The objective lenses and eyepieces supplied therefore provide an effective magnification range from around 50x magnification right up to a 1,000x magnification when using the 100x objective with the highest power eyepiece along with an appropriate immersion technique and very good illumination. 

4)  The stage is in brass of a square design with ebonite top layer.  The stage is fitted with a couple of brass slide clips which work well for holding slides steady.

5)  Immediately below stage there’s a 39mm mount to which is friction-fitted a twist-action iris with smooth action.

6)  Lighting is provided by a plano-concave mirror with swing and rotation adjustment, on a gimbal mount with pretty good silvering to both sides.

7)  There’s the original hardwood case with this example which is a quality well-made piece in its own right in very good condition with lovely exterior sheen and brass carry-handle.  It’s got internal racking for objectives/eyepieces and its lock and key are present and working which is always nice to have. 

In summary, this is a highly collectable example of a desk-top size Continental pattern antique R & J Beck microscope in very good condition and may therefore appeal to collectors as well as specialists seeking a really well made quality instrument with monocular set-up for use and/or display. 

This is also quite heavy microscope equipment especially with its sold brass construction and the wooden storage case, so owing to its weight it will be partially dismantled, very well packed and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. 

Thanks for looking – please check out my other listings if you get a chance.