|
Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
|
|
Microscope
430 (Fuess; metallurgical
microscope; c. 1930) Rudolph Fuess was an instrument maker
from Hanover, Germany. In 1860, Rudolf moved to Hamburg and started a company
four years later, producing microscopes and other scientific instruments.
Rudolf was one of the founders of the Imperial Physical and Technical
Institute in 1881. He bought the glass manufacturer Greiner & Geissler in
1877, expanding the range of his products, and built a factory in Berlin
(Steglitz) in 1891. Rudolf’s son Paul Fuess took over running the company in
1913. In 1932, the company opened an American office in New York City under
the name of R. Fuess, Inc. In 1936, another branch was opened in Potsdam
(this branch principally made aviation instruments). Work came to a
standstill with the defeat of Germany in World War II and the partition of
the country, but production resumed in 1948 or 1949. The firm was dissolved
in 1976. Microscope 430 is engraved with “R. FUESS, BERLIN-STEGLITZ” and the
serial number 51083. The instrument is a metallurgical microscope, with
epi-illumination, and should be dated to c. 1930. The instrument has its
original wooden box. Note: this instrument was kindly
donated by Dave Levell (Pembrokeshire, Wales) in May 2023. |