Microscope
Query
Can
you help date this Baker microscope?
Editor's introduction:
Can any of our readers help date the Baker
microscope shown below for the owner Anni Kappi? Baker were a
well known UK maker based at 244 High Holborn, London and the
firm ran from 1855-1959.
For some microscope makers it's possible to match a serial number
to likely date of manufacture but apparently for Baker no such
lists are known. Their serial numbers were up to ca. 40 000 when
they were taken over by Vickers in 1959 (who have also now ceased
making microscopes), which may give a rough idea where the stand
number of 19 661 stood in their years of operating. (This information was sourced from Brian
Bracegirdle's excellent book 'Notes on Modern Microscope
Manufacturers', Quekett Microscopical Club, 1996).
Incidentally we are very pleased to host queries on the older microscopes on Micscape, as it's a good way of bringing together enthusiasts worldwide who own or who have knowledge of these microscopes.
Anni Kappi, Helsinki, Finland writes:
Hello,
I have an old microscope which I got from my dad some year ago.
It is manufactured by C. Baker (London). There is also a number
sequence 19961 (or 19661) written on the surface of the
microscope. I assume it is the serial number. I have three
different objective lenses (1 1/4", 1 3/4" and 2
1/4") and ocular lenses (x5, x10 and x20) for the
microscope.
I hope that you specialists could help me to find out how old my
microscope might be. I'm also interested to hear some information
about the manufacturer.
I send you some pictures of the microscope. I hope they help you
to figure out what kind of microscope I'm talking about.
Thank you for your help in advance.
yours,
Anni Kappi
Email: akappi@cc.hut.fi
Published in the July 1999 edition of Micscape Magazine.
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