Description
Standing 11 inches tall on a 5 inch diameter brass ring, this Victorian microscope lamp shows some upper lamp innovations beyond the Swift-type lamp but very little use.
Signed “Baker, 244 High Holborn, London”, it retains the typical round glass reservoir and stopper (often broken and later replaced by metal ones), paraffin oil lamp burner and wick (original) assembly, japanned/anodized metal tapering chimney (often cracked in the Swift models) with original blue glass filter and with a fully adjustable (both axes) brass stem with knurled tightening nut. The unit can extend to a maximum height of 17 inches. Simple and elegant. No case. Minor loss of black enamel on the terminal ring holder.
Charles Baker was at this address during the 1850’s, expanded his business to incorporate German made microscopes in the 1860’s but later examples were signed W.C. after the standarisation of the postal system in London.
Ask the Dealer
Dealer information
ScientificaOpticae
Scientifica Opticae
Mark Hacking (Scientifica Opticae Inc.) has been an avid collector/dealer for over 30 years. A former Science teacher, he has an innate love for anything natural or mechanical. Specializing in optical (microscopes, telescopes), surveying, medical, weighing and drawing instruments, he is an active participant of the Scientific Instrument Fair in London. Living in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and two children; Mark looks forward to meeting as many fellow collectors as possible, and has a worldwide following on eBay (Sciopti).