J.J. Bausch was born in Germany, in 1830, and emigrated to America in 1849.
Henry Lomb, born in Germany in 1828, also emigrated to America in the same year. The two met in Rochester, NY, where they established a spectacle making business, and in 1866 they began the Vulcanite Optical Instrument Co., which was to make hard rubber eyeglass and magnifier frames.
By 1866 the company was making a simple microscope but it wasn't until 1874 that their first compound microscope was produced.
That same year the company name was changed to Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.
The following year Gundlach came to work for Bausch & Lomb where he designed a full range of microscopes.
Gundlach left the firm in 1878 after a long dispute, upon his departure the company retained his patents.
J.J. Bausch died in 1926.
Henry Lomb died in 1908.
Early U.S. Patents include:-
No. 47382 Improvement in Microscopes, April 25, 1865
J.J. Bausch's first microscope patent was for a collapsible pocket magnifier with spring mounted lens.
No. 151746 Improvement in Microscopes, June 9, 1874
A simple instrument, dubbed the "Excelsior" and heavily marketed in the 1870's.
No. 199015 Improvement in Microscopes, Jan 8, 1878
The famous American Agriculturist simple microscope with three lenses and vulcanite base and lens holders.
No. 230688 Microscope, Aug 30, 1880
John J. Bausch. The portable dissecting microscope folds flat for storage.
No. 251721 Trichinoscope, Jan 3, 1882
Carl F. Lomb and Edward Bausch. A portable instrument for the examination of thin sections of pork for trichinae.
No. 277869 Microscopic Illuminator, May 22, 1883
An electric light mounted on the mirror bar, patented by Edward Bausch.
No. 293217 Binocular Microscope, Feb 12, 1884
Edward Bausch. A prism holder nosepiece, adjustable for binocular or monocular use.
No. 328277 Microscope, Oct 13, 1885
Edward Bausch's patent for a compound microscope includes the use of sheet metal construction of many parts, a lowered center of gravity, and a glass stage.
No. 373634 Invertible Microscope, Nov 22, 1887
Edward Bausch's patent for an inverted microscope which can easily be converted to conventional use by removal of the prism housing and attachment of the tube in the normal manner.
No. 577344 Microscope, Feb 16, 1897
Edward Bausch's patent for the fine focus mechanism and method of attaching the hard rubber stage cover.
No. 588689 Microscope Attachment, Aug 24, 1897
Edward Bausch's patent for the B&L mechanical stage with "C" mount.
No. 597758 Magnifying Glass, Jan 25, 1898
A folding magnifier for examining fabric.
No. 617007 Microscope, Jan 3, 1899
Edward Bausch and August Koehler, of Bausch & Lomb. The patent covers the substage assembly.
Addresses:-
Address in September 1877
37 Maiden Lane, New York (Factory at Rochester, N.Y.)
Address in 1882
179 and 181 North St. Paul Street, P.O. Box 354, Rochester, New York.
37 Maiden Lane, P.O. Box 432, New York.
The 1882 (Seventh Edition) Price List of Microscopes, Objectives and Accessories does not contain a listing of prepared specimens.
Addresses in 1886
Factory and Main Office - 531-539 North St. Paul Street, Rochester, New York. P.O. Box 354
Branch Office - No. 37 Maiden Lane, New York, P.O. Box 432.
The 1886 Tenth Edition of their Price List of Microscopes, objectives and accessories includes 'As a new feature.....' 15 pages of Microscopical Objects from the 'best American and Foreign Preparers'. This latter statement appears in the section devoted to The Vegetable Kingdom and probably refers to those double stained sections advertised that were probably by W. H. Walmsley. The list also includes Mollers diatom-platte.
Addresses in 1887
Factory and Main Office - 531 to 543 North St. Paul Street, Rochester, New York, Postoffice Box 354
Branch Office - 48 to 50 Maiden Lane, New York, Postoffice Box 432.
The 1887 (Eleventh Edition) of their Illustrated Catalogue of Microscopes, Objectives and Accessories includes 'As a new feature.....' (though the list was available in their tenth edition - see above) 14 pages of Microscope Objects which include Mollers Typen Platte and judging by some of the objects mentioned some of Arthur C. Coles preparations.
Addresses in 1890 -
Factory and Main Office - 531-543 North Street, Rochester, New York, P.O. Drawer 292
Branch Office - 48 and 50 Maiden Lane, New York City, P.O. Box 432
Addresses in 1900
Main Office and Manufactory - 515-543, North St. Paul Street.
New York Branch - Townsend Building, Broadway and 25th Street.
Chicago Branch - Stewart Building, State and Washington Streets.
This CD contains two catalogues. The first is an 1877 publication and the second an 1882 supplement. Simply click on the images below to go to your choice of catalogue.
|