Zeiss Continental brass microscope circa 1890

This is Zeiss Stand VA that was introduced in 1883. It is signed "C. Zeiss, Jena, 14397" and measures 11" closed. It features a draw-tube coarse focus and knob controlled fine focus on top of the limb. The lens barrel length is variable with a graduated drawtube. The instrument is entirely brass with black japanned base, vulcanite stage, and original laquered brass elsewhere else, except on sliding parts. The lacquer coverage is 100% with only minor spotting. The plano-concave mirror is excellent but show preliminary age clouding on the plane side. A sub-stage Abbe condenser has a swing-out variable iris diaphragm. The diaphragm can be shifted off axis and rotated to allow for oblique and dark-field illumination. Two original Zeiss lenses accompany the microscope. One is marked "D", the other is 1/12" oil immersion n.a.1.20. Both have brass Zeiss canisters. The canister of the "D" lens is mis-matched and marked "A" on top. There are three eyepieces, marked 1, 2, and 3. A mahogany case with brass carry handle houses the microscope and lenses. The case may have been re-varnished, but is in very good condition. This was a popular model in the last decade of the 19^th century. It is featured as figure #182, page 97 of Billings.

Item 1049