B& L Physician's Microscope

Microscopes for Health and Medicine

c. 1850 – c. 1950

Richard Paselk, Curator

Physician’s Compound Microscope, Type FFS 8

Microscope, Type FFS 8

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester, N.Y.

SN = 184426

1925*; Private Collection

The catalog scan illustrating and describing B&L type FFS microscopeis from: Arthur H. Thomas Co. Laboratory Apparatus and Reagents. Philadelphia (1921)

The Bausch & Lomb Type FFS was “the standard B & L instrument for general routine work in biological and pathological laboratories” for its time. It has 5 & 10x eyepieces and a triple nosepiece with 10, 45, & 97x objectives to give 50–970x power. The Abbe condenser with iris diaphragm has a N.A. of 1.20. It can be seen in the folded out position for cleaning etc. in the image below. A second image shows the microscope in its fitted case. A B&L graduated mechanical stage readable to 0.1mm by verniers is original to the microscope. The catalog scan is from: Arthur H. Thomas Co. Laboratory Apparatus and Reagents. Philadelphia (1921). The model FFS was featured in vendor catalogs at least at late as 1931, though it appears to have been superceded by other models soon there after.

Description

The microscope is 11" high when closed. It is described in detail in the catalog scan above. The microscope is accompanied by its original black leatherette covered case as shown in the photograph below.

Microscope showing Abbe condenser folded out for cleaning etc.

Microscope, immersion oil bottle, objective lens cans and second eyepiece in fitted case

photo of microscope and its original black leatherette covered case

* The serial number gives a production date of 1925, see : Brian Bracegirdle. Notes on Modern Microscope Manufacturers.Quekett Microscopical Club (1996).