Scan of 1955 microscope sales brochure uploaded to Internet Archive

Wilska-Reichert's "Anoptral" Contrast Equipment (March 1955)
- an Austrian company via a United States distributor. Includes a price list insert.

Letter of the Day: October 1

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 199

War Department,
Surgeon General’s Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets, S.W.,
Washington, D.C., October 1, 1894,

Dr. A. Clifford Mercer,
324 Montgomery St.,
Syracuse, N.Y.

Dear Sir:

I have just returned from Europe and find your note of September 23rd on my table, for which I am much obliged.

I know Mr. Crisp’s collection very well, and have received much valuable aid from Mr. Mayall, the gentleman who aided him largely in making that collection. I wish it were possible to obtain it for the Army Medical Museum, to which it would be a splendid addition. But it is out of the question to think of purchasing it, as your annual appropriation for all purposes is only $5000. At all events, however, it can do no harm to make some inquiries about the matter, and I will at once proceed to do this through some friends in London.

Again thanking you for your note, I remain,
Yours very sincerely,
(Sgd) John S. Billings
Lt. Colonel and Deputy Surgeon General, U.S.A.

Letter of the Day: September 23

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 199

 

324 Montgomery St.

Syracuse, N.Y.

Sept. 23. 1894

 

John S. Billings M.D.

Surgeon, U.S.A.

 

Dear Doctor:

 

Incidentally I learned while in London recently that the famous historical collections of microscopes collected by Mr. Crisp at a cost of about L20000, had been offered for sale for L10000. I at once through of the Army Medical Museum. For a short time this collection can be had whole. Presently, I understand, if not sold as a whole, it will be broken up for sale in parts to suit small purchasers. I have been informed, perhaps somewhat privately, that Mr. Crisp intended to present this collection to the Royal Microscopical Society, had the Government given that society permanent rooms in Burlington House. The society would have had no rent to pay and the collection would have belonged essentially to the Government. I am told Mr. Crisp has been so disappointed in the Government, in its want of hospitality – not giving the society rooms – that he probably would take delight in writing a stinging letter to the Authorities pointing to the collection in the hands of a foreign government as the result of Burlington House not being offered as a home to the R.M. Society.

 

Further information can be had from Mr. C. Lees Curties with Chas. Baker, optician, 244 High Holborn, London, S.W. England.

 

Sincerely Yours,

A. Clifford Mercer, Dr.

 

P.S. The writer was much interested in the photomicroscopic work of Dr. Woodward had has been a worker in the same line for 18 years, has visited the Army Museum, has met you personally (in Washington, 1885, at meeting of Am. Public Health Association)

A.C.M.

Letter of the Day: August 4

Phila Aug 4^th 1863

 

Dr. Brinton

 

Dear Sir

 

Enclosed please find statement of account against the Medical Museum, if we should received the amount at the present time, it would be a great benefit, as business is very dull and we are obliged to pay accounts as they become due. We shall take it as a favor if you will have the account put in train for being paid.

 

Yours truly

 

James W. Queen & Co

Letter of the Day: March 7

Nobert was known for making microscopical lines (or rulings) on glass slides to a very high tolerance, so researchers used his slides to calibrate their microscopes. The machine was bought by the museum but was transferred to the Bureau of Standards, which is now the National Institute of Standards and Techology.

Bhootan
Whitehorse Road
Croydon, near London
Mar. 7 .99

To Dr. J. S. Billings
Washington

Dear Sir

You may recollect some years ago having some correspondence with my father (the late Dr. John Mayall jun.) regarding the acquisition of Noberts Ruling Machine, but that it was not then for sale.

After my father’s death I acquired the machine, but now owing to serious domestic troubles I am closing up my home, & am writing back if you would like to purchase the machine for your museum.

My father looked upon it as one of the wonders of the mechanical world which it undoubtedly is, & thought it should be in a museum where it could be seen & appreciated.

The machine has been preserved with the utmost care, all accessories, the diamonds for the rulings, Noberts original notes, together with a translation, are all intact.

The price of the machine is L200, & if you decide to purchase it, I will have it most carefully packed.

I enclose a set of photographs showing different views of the machine, accessories etc, also a copy of the Soc. Of Arts Journal containing the paper read by my father before that society.

I am Sir
Yrs faithfully
(Mrs.) L.C.E. Taylor

[the photographs were given the numbers CP 3770-3773]

Letter of the Day #1: February 4

A microtome is used to cut sections for microscopic slides.

 

February 4, 1905

 

To the Surgeon General,

U.S. Army.

 

Sir:

 

I have the honor to request authority to purchase for deposit in this Museum:

 

1 large or flat section cutting microtome, 1900 pattern, with double lever to prevent cutting thick and thin sections, est. cost… $45.00 to be paid for from the Museum appropriation. 

 

Very respectfully,

 

C.L. Heinzmann

Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.

In charge of Museum & Library Division

 

[handwritten note]

 

See Cat. of W. Watson & Sons, 313 High Holborn, London W. C. p. 124 No. 840.

 

Microscopes, illustrated

We had a request a couple of weeks ago for scans from old Bausch & Lomb microscope catalogs. This can't really do it justice, but hopefully you'll get the idea of how beautiful the engraving is from an 1893 catalog.

More microscope catalogue scans

Here's some more microscope catalogues scanned and uploaded to the Internet Archive.

Graf-Apsco 1938

Graf-Apsco 1943

Graf-Apsco 1946