Microscope, made by James Smith, sold to E. David

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This is an early monocular achromatic compound microscope, made by James Smith under the direction of Joseph Jackson Lister in 1839. It has two dividing objectives and three eyepieces and its accessories include a stage condenser and a livebox.

By 1840, three new instrument makers, exclusively manufacturing microscopes, had emerged in London, who had learned how to make successful achromatic instruments. Through J.J. Lister's optical theory and their own remarkable skill, their microscopes were the best available optically. One of these, James Smith (d. 1870), seems to have worked exclusively for the trade until 1839, when he was assisted in business by Lister, with whose nephew Richard Beck he formed a partnership in 1847.

James Smith's records show that he sold two 'plain' microscopes to 'David, Liverpool' in 1839. Edward Davis was an optician who moved to Liverpool from Cheltenham in 1839, and was advertising achromatic microscopes for sale that year.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-950-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1979.62
• Date: 1839
  
• Material: Brass. Inscription: Davis, Liverpool
  Microscope, achromatic compound
  
• Dimensions: 300 mm x 280 mm x 460 mm
  
• What: Microscope, achromatic compound
  
• Subject:
• Who: Arthur Frank Microscope Collection
  Davis, Liverpool (Name engraved on microscope)
  James Smith, London (Maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  
• Event:
• Description: Achromatic compound 'Plain' microscope in brass, with 2 dividing objectives, 3 eyepieces, accessories and case, made by James Smith of London, and signed by Davis of Liverpool, 1839
  
• References:
  • For Smith: see Turner, G. L'E. Hugh Powell, James Smith and Andrew Ross: Makers of Microscopes. In: J. North (ed.), Mid-Nineteenth Century Scientists (Oxford, 1969), pp 104-138. 
  • Nuttall, R.H. (1979): "Microscopes from the Frank Collection 1800 - 1860" 
  • Nuttall, R.H. James Smith, and Smith and Beck; 1839-1852 Part I: The Microscopes. Microscopy 36 (1989), pp 288-300, 317. 
  • Nuttall, R.H. Microscopes from the Frank Collection 1800-1860. Jersey, 1979, p 43. 
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