Microscope
notes: label: Description
content: Simple microscopes came into use in the seventeenth century and, being less expensive than compound instruments, and often showing more details as well, remained popular for quite some time. This example is brass, with an ivory handle and iron forceps to hold the specimen. Historians refer to this form as a “compass” microscope, presumably reflecting its resemblance to a drawing compass. Many similar pieces are known. Few are signed.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Science & Scientific Instruments
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
label: See more items in
content: Microscopes
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MG.281267.08
label: catalog number
content: M-12323
label: accession number
content: 281267
label: catalog number
content: 281267.08
objectType: label: Object Name
content: microscope
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ivory (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 3/4 in x 7/8 in x 4 1/2 in; 4.445 cm x 2.2225 cm x 11.43 cm