Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

In this page, by clicking the links above, there is a database of images of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments as featured in many antique trade catalogues of important instrument makers and retailers, antique books, issues of the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, and other sources. These visual guides may help identifying many different types of microscopes and other items (including, sometimes, when these instruments are unsigned). Many of the original documents from which the images were adapted can be found by clicking the ‘Catalogues and antique books’ button on the lateral menu.

The setting of this repository of images is always a work in progress. If you have any antique or vintage historical documents, such as antique catalogues of makers or retailers of microscopes and related items, or other scientific instruments, I would be glad if you can send me a digital or hardcopy to include the information in this image database.

Below is a brief description about the contents that will be accessed by clicking the buttons above:

·      Within Lenses and microscopes, you will find thousands of images of many different types of microscopes, since the earlier instruments until the modern era, made or sold by the most important makers and retailers.

·      Within Other items, you will find images of mechanical stages, microscope lamps, turntables, and many other items related with microscopes and microscopy.

·      Within Important microscope makers, you will find images of microscopes and other related instruments made by these makers found in their own trade catalogues, catalogues of other retailers, antique books, volumes of the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, and other sources. This section is organised by maker.

·      Within Antique catalogues, you will find images of microscopes and related instruments found in the trade catalogues of many makers and retailers. This section is organised by maker/retailer and their countries of origin.

·      Within Antique books, you will find images of microscopes and related instruments found in many antique books. This section is organised by book’s author.

·      Within Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, you will find images of microscopes and related instruments found in volumes of this journal published between 1878 and 1918. This section is organised by maker and by year of publication.

·      Within Other scientific and medical items, you will find images of diverse scientific instruments found in the catalogues of historical manufacturers and retailers. This is a recent addition to this page and an ongoing work that will be extended during the coming months or years (currently, it includes only instruments retrieved from Gallenkamp catalogues published between 1930 and 1977).