The Tiyoda MKH Field Microscope

By Jay Stanley, USA


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A remarkable microscope, the little Tioyda MKH, is reminiscent of the Reichert 'Heimdal' Field Microscope. The scope came to me outfitted with a 5x ocular, 2 position turret, 10x/0.30, 40x/0.65, and 90x/1.25 NA oil achromat RMS objectives, working x-y mechanical stage, and adjustable condenser with iris diaphram and filter slot with a daylight blue filter. The case also has receptical for a small vial with glass stopper for oil immersion and another for solvent I assume, as this one is missing the vial. A light source is reflected via a flat and concave mirror assembly. For storage the feet fold in, the stage and mirror fold to the side, the main tube pushes up into the arm and the ocular tube down and fits neatly in the metal case which is 17.8cm x 12.7cm x 5.7cm (7"x 5" x 2.25").

The microscope was purchased on eBay and arrived frozen from hardened grease, with a few evenings well spent, I managed to free all moving parts. The view through the Tiyoda objectives are far from flat so I tried some of my Wild achromat objectives and they work well, in that regard, I believe the MKH to be 160mm TL, if so, finding additional objectites poses no problem but watch the length (JIS 36mm and DIN 45mm) as the "stop" is set for the JIS 36mm objectives.
Although not a heavy frame it was still fairly stable and the controls easily within reach. I am delighted with this small microscope and I am proud to add it to my collection.




Mr. Taishi Toyomasu at Sakura Finetek Japan has informed me that the scope was also called the "MKATERA Portable" and that this model was developed in 1929 mainly for the army or animal doctor, he also directed me to a site in Japanese for Tiyoda microscopes, by a former employee of some thirty years ago,
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~nw-shiraishi/index.html.
You can use AltaVista Babel Fish to translate.
There is little information on these microscopes to be found, so if anyone has additional documentation on this model, please contact me.

Further investigation led me to this, another similar scope the "Kyowa field scope" looks exactly like the Tiyoda, both coming from Japan, one might conclude they may have been made by the same manufacturer.


Some quick frame grabs.
4x Wild Objective
10x Tiyoda Objective
20x Wild Objective
40x Tiyoda Objective
10x Tiyoda Objective


Below, a newer version type MKQ with revolving 3 position turret. Approx. date is 1945. The case is 28.5cm x 19cm x 8.9cm (11.25" x 7.5" x 3.5")


Thank you Mike Dingley of Australia for your fine work on field microscopes and reference to the Reichert 'Heimdal' Field Microscope!


 All comments to the author Jay Stanley are welcomed.


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