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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
73 (R&J
Beck Ltd; Binomax model; early 1930s)
R & J Beck
occupy an especially important place in the history of the British microscope
manufacturing with its beginning established in London, by Richard Beck (1827
- 1866) in association with James Smith (1800 – 1873), and later to be joined
by his brother Joseph Beck. Richard and Joseph Beck were nephews of Joseph
Jackson Lister, who was a respected British optician and physicist who
experimented with achromatic lenses and perfected an optical microscope. In
commissioning the manufacture of his improved microscope, Lister worked with
James Smith, an employee of the instrument-making firm of William Tulley, to create the stand. James Smith went on to
establish his own optical instruments workshop in 1837. Through this
relationship, Lister arranged for his nephew, Richard Beck to be an
apprentice under Smith in 1843. In 1847, James Smith entered
into partnership with Richard Beck, and the company was re-named Smith
& Beck. In 1854, the company was renamed to Smith, Beck and Beck, as Richard Beck's brother Joseph Beck
joined the company in 1851. James Smith retired in 1865 and the company
became R & J Beck and this name lasted for long time. In 1866,
Richard Beck died at an early age of 39, and Joseph Beck carried on the
business. In 1895 the company became a limited partnership (R & J Beck
Ltd). By 1968, the company was a subsidiary of the Ealing Corporation
of USA. In 2019, Beck Optronic Solutions Ltd is a descendent of the
former R & J Beck Ltd. Microscope 73 is a Beck low magnification
microscope, model Binomax, with rack and pinion
focussing motions on heavy table stand (Figure 1). The instrument has the
serial number 11571 and can be dated to the early 1930s.
Figure 1. Beck’s Binomax microscope with rack and pinion focussing motions
on heavy table stand as engraved in the company’s 1935 catalogue. Reference R
& J Beck (1920s-1930s) Illustrated catalogue of microscopes James
Smith, 1800 – 1873 (http://microscopist.net/SmithJ.html),
last accessed on 12.08.2020 R.
and J. Beck (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/R._and_J._Beck),
last accessed on 12.08.2020 LAST EDITED: 15.08.2020 |
