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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
99 (R & J
Beck Ltd; Greenough binocular dissecting microscope; 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 99 is a Beck Greenough binocular dissecting microscope (Figure 1).
The instrument has the serial number 10220 and can be dated to the 1930s. The
instrument came with one head and two stands: a stand with stage and base
(No. 3205 in the Beck’s 1935 catalogue) and a horseshoe stand (No. 3206 in
the Beck’s 1935 catalogue) (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Beck’s Greenough binocular
dissecting microscopes stands No 3205 (left) and No 3206 (right) 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 East
Carolina University collections – Binomax stereomicroscope (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/21991#?#details&xywh=-4%2C-19%2C2311%2C3108&cv=0),
last accessed on 02.01.2021 LAST EDITED: 15.08.2020 |
