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Jones Most Improved Microscope
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20018
A Fine, Early 19th-Century Jones' Most Improved Compound Monocular Microscope:
London ca. 1825. Signed on the base W. & S. JONES. 30 Holborn LONDON. This was the firm of brothers William & Samuel Jones working between 1791-1859 in London. The microscope is of lacquered brass and stands 45.8 cm (18 in.) high when fully assembled. The main optical tube screws into the end of a short arm atop the main limb. The arm moves backwards and forwards by rack and pinion control, and can be swiveled from side to side. The square stage moves up and down the main limb, also by rack and pinion, and can be moved laterally, within an arc, by means of an independent, circular racked gear mechanism. Beneath the stage are a bull's-eye substage condenser and a plano-concave mirror, each mounted on the limb with a sliding sleeve. The limb itself is mounted via a compass joint to the top of a tapering brass column terminating in a folding splayed tripod base. The microscope disassembles into a fitted mahogany case (13 X 10 X 4 in.) with two brass hooks and catches and two brass carrying handles. A full complement of accessories include: two high power, unnumbered objectives with domed brass screw caps; another, late model, in a brass canister; four lieberkuhn objectives, one of unusually large size (43 mm dia.); a stage-mounted lieberkuhn; a stage-mounted bull's-eye condenser; stage forceps; a frog plate; an eared stage attachment; a two-armed brass slide holder; a live box; condenser cone; tweezers; a Bonnani sprung stage; three long fruitwood sliders, no.'s 1 and 3 each with five cells, no. 2 with three large cells; and an ivory canister containing talcs and retaining rings. Contained in a lidded compartment in the base of the box are one brass, five ivory and two lignum vitae four-cell sliders; a black and white disc; and a circular six-bead objective mount, each in numbered apertures. Also in the case is an ivory-handled compass microscope (12.5 cm; 4 7/8 in.) with rotatable black/white ivory stage and forceps, threaded for use with the same objectives. Discussion:
The firm of W & S Jones was recorded as working in London between 1791-1859, at the sign of Archimedes in lower Holborn (5). They produced a wide variety of optical, mathematical and philosophical instruments. Most notable of their offerings was the Jones’ Most Improved Compound Monocular Microscope (1-4). This microscope has an easily recognizable characteristic form. It is actually a re-introduction or continuation of the stand first introduced by George Adams Jr. in 1787 in his book “Essays on the Microscope.” The microscope design has become permanently associated with the Jones’ name, i.e. “Jones Most Improved” after the Jones brothers purchased the remaining stock of the Adams' workshop and the rights to Adams’ published works after his death in 1795. Condition:
The condition is very fine throughout. The optical system is excellent producing sharp and highly resolved images of extremely small specimens, such as diatoms. The microscope has a full complement of accessories, all in very fine condition, and all likely orginal to the outfit. An incredible marvel of early 19th century engineering technology. The mahogany case is in very fine condition with original French polish finish, and amazingly, no shrinkage cracks. Provenance: Christies South Kensington: 7 APR 2004; Lot: 3. "Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Works of Art" Bibliography:
1. Turner, Gerard L’E (1989) The Great Age of The Microscope; (The collection of the Royal Microscopical Society through 150 years) ISBN [0-85274-020-4] p. 66-72.
2. Turner, Gerard L’E (1981) Collecting Microscopes ISBN [0-8317-5950 x] p. 62-64, 104.
3. Henderson, J.E.; et. al. (1987) The Billings Microscope Collection 2nd Ed. p. 21-22.
4. Turner, Gerard L’E (1991) Museo Di Storia Della Scienza (Catalogue of Microscopes) ISBN [88-09-20208-2] p. 54.
5. Clifton, Gloria (1995) Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851. ISBN [0-302-00634 6] p. 155. 6. The W & S Jones advertisement and receipt are reproduced here by permission from the British Museum.
London ca. 1825. Signed on the base W. & S. JONES. 30 Holborn LONDON. This was the firm of brothers William & Samuel Jones working between 1791-1859 in London. The microscope is of lacquered brass and stands 45.8 cm (18 in.) high when fully assembled. The main optical tube screws into the end of a short arm atop the main limb. The arm moves backwards and forwards by rack and pinion control, and can be swiveled from side to side. The square stage moves up and down the main limb, also by rack and pinion, and can be moved laterally, within an arc, by means of an independent, circular racked gear mechanism. Beneath the stage are a bull's-eye substage condenser and a plano-concave mirror, each mounted on the limb with a sliding sleeve. The limb itself is mounted via a compass joint to the top of a tapering brass column terminating in a folding splayed tripod base. The microscope disassembles into a fitted mahogany case (13 X 10 X 4 in.) with two brass hooks and catches and two brass carrying handles. A full complement of accessories include: two high power, unnumbered objectives with domed brass screw caps; another, late model, in a brass canister; four lieberkuhn objectives, one of unusually large size (43 mm dia.); a stage-mounted lieberkuhn; a stage-mounted bull's-eye condenser; stage forceps; a frog plate; an eared stage attachment; a two-armed brass slide holder; a live box; condenser cone; tweezers; a Bonnani sprung stage; three long fruitwood sliders, no.'s 1 and 3 each with five cells, no. 2 with three large cells; and an ivory canister containing talcs and retaining rings. Contained in a lidded compartment in the base of the box are one brass, five ivory and two lignum vitae four-cell sliders; a black and white disc; and a circular six-bead objective mount, each in numbered apertures. Also in the case is an ivory-handled compass microscope (12.5 cm; 4 7/8 in.) with rotatable black/white ivory stage and forceps, threaded for use with the same objectives. Discussion:
The firm of W & S Jones was recorded as working in London between 1791-1859, at the sign of Archimedes in lower Holborn (5). They produced a wide variety of optical, mathematical and philosophical instruments. Most notable of their offerings was the Jones’ Most Improved Compound Monocular Microscope (1-4). This microscope has an easily recognizable characteristic form. It is actually a re-introduction or continuation of the stand first introduced by George Adams Jr. in 1787 in his book “Essays on the Microscope.” The microscope design has become permanently associated with the Jones’ name, i.e. “Jones Most Improved” after the Jones brothers purchased the remaining stock of the Adams' workshop and the rights to Adams’ published works after his death in 1795. Condition:
The condition is very fine throughout. The optical system is excellent producing sharp and highly resolved images of extremely small specimens, such as diatoms. The microscope has a full complement of accessories, all in very fine condition, and all likely orginal to the outfit. An incredible marvel of early 19th century engineering technology. The mahogany case is in very fine condition with original French polish finish, and amazingly, no shrinkage cracks. Provenance: Christies South Kensington: 7 APR 2004; Lot: 3. "Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Works of Art" Bibliography:
1. Turner, Gerard L’E (1989) The Great Age of The Microscope; (The collection of the Royal Microscopical Society through 150 years) ISBN [0-85274-020-4] p. 66-72.
2. Turner, Gerard L’E (1981) Collecting Microscopes ISBN [0-8317-5950 x] p. 62-64, 104.
3. Henderson, J.E.; et. al. (1987) The Billings Microscope Collection 2nd Ed. p. 21-22.
4. Turner, Gerard L’E (1991) Museo Di Storia Della Scienza (Catalogue of Microscopes) ISBN [88-09-20208-2] p. 54.
5. Clifton, Gloria (1995) Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851. ISBN [0-302-00634 6] p. 155. 6. The W & S Jones advertisement and receipt are reproduced here by permission from the British Museum.
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