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Microscope, made and sold by Hugh Powell

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in London

Microscope, made and sold by Hugh Powell
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This brass monocular compound and simple microscope was made and sold by Hugh Powell In London. The signature on an instrument does not mean that it was necessarily made by that person, or even in his workshop. Often, makers sold their instruments to larger organisations, possibly even in another place, and the retailer would have their name engraved on them. For instance, this 'Pritchard model' microscope was both made and sold by Hugh Powell. In outline it follows the design published by Andrew Pritchardin 1834, with the addition of a mechanical stage developed by Edmund Turrell in 1833.

The microscope is signed on the base and has Powell's trade label in the lid of the fitted box (not shown). It has an unusually complete set of accessories, including a candleholder and condenser. There is a dividing objective, two single lenses and two eyepieces, and among the accessories is a stage micrometer, a combined micrometer and livebox and stage forceps.

Hugh Powell (1799-1883) appears to have worked as a supplier for the instrument trade before he set up on his own and began, in 1840, to sign his microscopes 'Hugh Powell'. In 1842 he took his brother-in-law, Peter Lealand, into partnership, and thereafter instruments were signed 'Powell & Lealand'. After his death, his son Thomas ran the business, which survived on a small scale up until the First World War.

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