Microscopes

Olympus Model FH, 1965

With trinocular head, mechanical stage and quadruple nosepiece

Zeiss GFL

With trinocular head, mechanical stage and quadruple nosepiece

The brass objective that can be seen on the nosepiece is a 1/4 inch by Ross of London - see here

I have also set up this microscope for flash photomicrography

I have had two Zeiss GFLs with broken fine focus mechanisms. Here is a link to a page about repairs.

Here is a link to the Zeiss GFL Manual

Wild (M8 body)

This is a much more modern instrument than the Zeiss binocular shown below and features a large field and continuous zoom from 6x - 50x

Watso Bactl Binocular

Watson Bactil Binocular

With interchangeable head to either upright monocular or inclined monocular or binocular. Quadruple nosepiece. See also the Watson pages on the Little Imp Publications website for more info on Watson microscopes

Projectina

Can be fitted with either a polaroid camera back (shown) or ground glass viewing screen. Choice of quadruple nosepiece or single long working distance objectives. A webpage on restoring the Projectina by fellow radio amateur G6PJE can bee seen on the Micscape Website

Leitz

This instrument was given to me by a friend who used it when she was a medical student. I am told it dates from around 1899 - 1907. It has two objectives: 10x and 63x, 170 mm tube length. A nice old microscope.

Zeiss/Greenough Optictal train

Zeiss with Greenough Optical Train

The Greenough system is essentially two microscopes mounted side by side to give a sterescopic view. The field is quite restricted in size.

Zeiss Standard 16

Fitted with Mk II flash setup

Leitz Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) with Zeiss Standard GFL

Method of fitting Leitz ICT Substage Condenser to Zeiss Standard GFL substage

Leitz ICT Substage Condenser

For use with Leitz ICT objectives to give differential interference contrast. This was obtained as "scrap" together with the mounting fork that had been sheared off the original Leitz microscope substage in an unfortunate accident.

Fitting Leitz DIC to the Zeiss Standard 16

The big problem you first encounter if you want to use the Leitz ICT components on a Zeiss microscope is that the substage condenser is a completely different size and has a different mounting arrangement to the Zeiss condensers. I solved this for the Zeiss Standard GFL (see above), but the Standard 16 is a different problem.

Eventually, after much thought, I obtained a second substage mounting ring and designed a modification to allow the Leitz condenser to be mounted. I do not have engineering equipment such as a lathe or milling machine, but my Father has a lathe, and his neighbour, Reg (aged 90), has milling equipment. Reg very kindly agreed to do the mods. Here are the results:

This is the unmodified Zeiss mounting

Here is the modified Zeiss mounting, as a sketch:

Here it is in the flesh, in situ:

and again, with the condenser in position:

Finally, here is the complete set-up with Leitz ICT objectives fitted:

This is a much more satisfactory arrangement than the earlier GFL modification. The analyser is situated in a Zeiss intermediate tube and is a home built polariser using some polarising material purchased at the Quekett Microscopical Club.

The camera shown is a Canon Powershot G9 mounted on a Zarf Enterprises adapter and with provision for on-board flash via a "Y" fibre optic feed. The other leg of the "Y" takes the main illumination.

My Microscopes