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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Universal microscope lamp by Sartory Instruments Ltd (c. 1950s) Universal microscope lamp made by Sartory Instruments Ltd (Figure 1), probably dated to the
1950s. This low voltage ‘High Intensity’ lamp was one of the company’s most
successful products, and one of the first microscope illuminators to
incorporate the transformer and rheostat into the lamp base. The heavy base
contains two steel columns; a long one mounted centrally to permit the use of
the lamp up to 25 cm above the bench and a shorter one at the periphery to
enable the lamp to be used at a very low angle. These lamps were still being
offered for sale by Flatters & Garnet in their ‘MIKROPS’ catalogue in
1963 and were substantially cheaper than the bulkier lamps of Baker, Beck,
Swift and Watson also listed. The firm Sartory
Instruments Ltd was founded by Peter Sartory and
John Bunford in 1949. Peter was a self-taught optical and mechanical engineer
fascinated by microscopes and telescopes. The company was only active for 14
years. It started trading from the facilities of another company in which
Peter and John were directors, Superma Ltd, at the
address 7 Steele Road, Chiswick London and continued at that address
until 1962. They ceased manufacturing in early 1963. Note: item kindly donated by Mr John H. Adair (UK) in June 2024. Figure 1. Sartory universal microscope lamp as
featured in the article ‘Carel Sartory. 2011. Sartory
Instruments Ltd – A Very British Enterprise. QJM 41: 397 – 409’ References Carel Sartory.
2011. Sartory Instruments Ltd – A Very British
Enterprise. QJM 41: 397 – 409 |