Beale's Class Microscope

Designed by Lionel Beale ca 1860s, as a hand held microscope for use in the class or in the field. It also fitted into a difficult to use stand and lamp. The objective to slide distance was lockable, with focussing done with a draw tube. Locked the microscope can be passed around a group or class.
Beale called his design "clinical, pocket, travelling and class microscope" The microscope is fully described and illustrated in Beale's "How to work with the microscope"

The maker Matthews of 8 Portugal St. London is listed by Bennion in "Antique Medical Instruments" as a surgical instrument maker at 8 Portugal St. in 1851 and 1865. Presumably he supplied the microscope to medical schools.
The microscope accepts any RMS threaded objective and is fitted with "J Swift & Son, London W." "1in"Ca 1890.

Length, typical 20cm

Ca 1865