Microscope
date: label: date made
content: 1882-1891
name: label: maker
content: R. & J. Beck
notes: label: Description
content: R. & J. Beck began in business as such in 1865, won an award at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876, and established an American branch in Philadelphia in 1877. This shop was opened by William H. Walmsley, the former head of the optical department of J. W. Queen & Co. Williams, Brown & Earle was running it by 1891.
label: Description
content: Beck explained in 1882 that “perfection without regard to cost” had long been their aim. But, with the recent popularization of microscopy, “there has arisen a demand for cheap instruments”—a demand “that has been mainly filled by literally worthless articles of French manufacture.” In this situation, Beck was offering several models that were “thoroughly well-made and reliable” and yet inexpensive.
label: Description
content: This is an example of the Scholar’s Microscope that could be had for $25. It is a compound monocular with micrometer screw, circular stage, inclination joint, sub-stage mirror, and tri-leg base. The inscription on one leg reads “R. & J. BECK / LONDON / 11872.” That on another reads “W. H. WALMSLEY & CO. / PHILADELPHIA / SOLE AMERICAN AGENTS.”
label: Description
content: Ref: R. & J. Beck, <i>Illustrated Price List of Microscopes, Microscopic Apparatus and Other Optical Instruments</i> (Philadelphia, 1882), preface.
label: Description
content: R. & J. Beck, <i>Illustrated Price List of Microscopes, Microscopic Apparatus and Other Optical Instruments</i> (Philadelphia, 1883), p. 66.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England, London
topic: label: Subject
content: Science & Scientific Instruments
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
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content: Microscopes
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Transfer from the Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Education
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MG.M-09772
label: accession number
content: 51116
label: catalog number
content: M-09772
label: catalog number
content: 51116.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: microscope
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 24.8 cm x 14.3 cm x 12.7 cm; 9 3/4 in x 5 5/8 in x 5 in