Compound monocular and binocular microscope used by Professor G.B. Halford (1824-1910)
Maker
1. Powell & Lealand (estab. 1841, closed Circa 1920s)
2. E.Leitz Wetzlar (estab. 1849, closed 1986)
3. C. Baker Instruments Ltd (estab. 1765, closed 1963)
4. Smith, Beck & Beck (estab. 1857, closed 1865)
Date
Circa 1856
Description
In 1864 the University of Melbourne bought the microscope for G.B. Halford (1824-1910) from the Reverend John Bleasdale, a prominent Catholic clergyman and an active member of the Microscopic Society of Australia. Halford was the first Professor of anatomy, physiology and pathology at the University of Melbourne. He was described on his appointment in 1862 as 'one of the most distinguished experimental physiologists of the day'. For 7 years he was the sole full-time lecturer. By 1871 he was President of the Professional Board of the University of Melbourne, in which role he attempted to allow women to attend the University. The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1876 and Halford was elected Dean.
No.1 binocular microscope made by Powell and Lealand, London, the stand has been made "proof against corrosion of acids and the injurious actions a alkalis and spirit of wine by plating with brass with silver and then gilding with more than half an ounce of the purest gold."
Compound monocular and binocular microscope with fine and coarse focus by rack and pinion and a square stage with sliding adjustments and condenser. It has facilities for interchangeable nosepiece, (triple or double), and a rack and pinion drive for binocular draw tube. It is stored in a walnut case with side compartments, and includes inventory and usage notes by its user, Professor George Britton Halford (1824-1910). The donor was the grand-daughter of G.B. Halford.
See full details
Object detail
Ernst Leitz II (b.1871, d.1956) ▫ 1/10 objective and its container
C. Baker Instruments Ltd (estab. 1765, closed 1963) ▫ 2" objective & container
Smith & Beck (estab. 1847, closed 1857) ▫ 2" objective & container
C Kelner ▫ eyepiece
Smith, Beck & Beck (estab. 1857, closed 1865) ▫ Maltwoods Finder slide & container
Professor George Britton Halford (b.1824, d.1910) ▫ inventory & drawer labels
maker's mark ▫ frame stamped: 'POWELL & LEALAND 170 Euston Rd London' ▫ microscope
maker's mark ▫ painted recto in white: 'C/KELNER' ▫ eyepiece
scale incised along extending arm; eyepieces marked 'B' ▫ binocular drawtube
name/inscriptions ▫ lid stamped: '2. in/Lieberkuhn/(scroll work)' ▫ mirror container
name/inscriptions ▫ in ink on label: 'Jackson's/Eye-piece/Micrometer/screw-adjt/'£1.0.0/(cnr missing)000 inch' ▫ micrometer container
scale/inscriptions ▫ around, scale of 0 to 50 ▫ objective
maker's mark ▫ into lens piece, '42442', and into lower piece, '1/10/Oel Immersion/E.Leitz Wetzlar' ▫ 1/10 objective (screw-on lens)
name/inscriptions ▫ into top, '1/10/Oel Immersion/Tubusl:170mm/E.Leitz Wetzlar' ▫ 1/10 objective container
name/inscriptions ▫ on lid: '¼' ▫ ¼" objective container
name/inscriptions ▫ into top, '2 In/Baker/London' ▫ 2" objective container
inscriptions ▫ 'uncovered' ▫ 1" objective
name/inscriptions ▫ into top and underneath, '1 in' ▫ 1" objective container
scale/inscriptions ▫ around: scale of 0 to 50 ▫ ⅛" objective
name/inscriptions ▫ on top & underneath '⅛' ▫ ⅛" objective container
scale/inscriptions ▫ around: scale ▫ 2/3 objective
name/inscriptions ▫ on lid, '2/3/Smith & Beck/6 Coleman St./London.', and underneath, '2/3' ▫ 2/3 objective container
name/inscriptions ▫ into top, '1½/Smith & Beck/6 Coleman St./London.', and underneath,'1½' ▫ 1½" objective container
specifications/maker's mark ▫ 'Test Object/1/1000 - 5/1000/F.A. Norbert for/(indecipherable)' ▫ Norbert's Test slide
name/inscriptions ▫ stamped in gilt: on upper half, 'NORBERT'S.', and on lower half, TEST.' ▫ slide container
name/inscriptions ▫ on left, 'Maltwood's/Finder/(arrow pointing left)/Stop/(initials)', and on right, 'Photographed/by/Smith Beck & Co/6 Coleman St./London' ▫ Maltwoods Finder slide
name/inscriptions ▫ in ink on label: 'Maltwood's/Finder/cost - 7/6' ▫ slide container
maker's mark ▫ stamped in gilt: 'SMITH, BECK & BECK/6 COLEMAN ST/LONDON.' ▫ slide container
name/inscriptions ▫ in ink, 'Human Breast (unclear)/Haemator/(unclear)' ▫ tissue sample
name/inscriptions ▫ in ink, 'Powell & Lealands' Microsope/Angular Apertures of Objectives/reduced to Numerical/Apertures' ▫ envelope
labels ▫ in ink, 'Physiological' ▫ lh slide drawer 1
labels ▫ in ink, 'Biol(torn away)' ▫ lh slide drawer 2
labels ▫ in ink, 'Geological.', over another 'To(coverered)e' ▫ lh slide drawer 9
labels ▫ in ink, 'Insect Parts.' ▫ lh slide drawer 10
labels ▫ in ink, 'Spr(torn away)' ▫ lh slide drawer 11
labels ▫ in ink, 'Polariscope.' ▫ lh slide drawer 12
donor or source details/notations/inscriptions ▫ in ink, 'This microscope was donated by/Mrs D. G.Banks, the granddaughter/of G. B. Halford' ▫ card
inscriptions ▫ in ink, 'THE MICROSCOPE USED BY PROFESSOR G. B. HALFORD/In 1864 the University bought this microscope for G. B. Halford from the Rev./John Bleasdale, a prominent Catholic clergyman and an active member of the/Microscope Society of Australia.
Made by Powell & Lealand, London, the stand has been made 'proof against the/corrosion of acids and the injurous action of alkalis and spirit wine' by plating/the brass with silver and then gilding with 'more than half an ounce of the purest/gold'.
Apart from a variety of lenses and condensers there are also an eyepiece/micrometer, prisms for camera lucida,Lieberkuhn's reflectors for opaque objects and a Maltwood's finder 7/6.' ▫ display card
labels ▫ stamped on inside of rear rh compartment door: 'COLL. PHARM.' ▫ case
Do you know something about this object?
Be the first to comment on this object record.