Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

Microscope oil lamp (late 19th century)

A white and gold object in a wooden box

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a lamp

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a kerosene lamp

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a lamp

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a lamp

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a lamp

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a lamp

Description automatically generatedA close-up of a lamp

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Microscope oil lamp by an unknown manufacturer, probably dated to the late 19th century. These types of microscope lamps were sold by many companies during the 19th century and early 20th century (Figure 1). The burner is engraved with “PATENTED SEPT.16.1862”, and “HOLMES BOOTH & HAYDENS, WATERBURY CT.”, and the oil reservoir’s brass collar is also engraved with “PATD APR.19.1875, MCH.21.1876”. The company Holmes, Booth & Haydens started in 1853 as a partnership between Hiram W. Hayden, Israel Holmes and John C. Booth, in Waterbury (Connecticut, USA). Henry H. Hayden and James A. Hayden were also associated with the firm, hence the plural Haydens in the company name. The company was engaged in casting, rolling and drawing brass and copper, and were important manufacturers of lamps and burners. The company operated independently until late 1901, when it became part of the American Brass Company. The Holmes, Booth & Haydens was assigned at least 56 lighting-related patents between January 24, 1860, and January 30, 1894. The “PATENTED SEPT.16.1862” corresponds to the US patent 36493 for a lamp burner (Figure 2).

Several different types of oil lamps

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Figure 1. Microscope oil lamps as featured in the catalogues of several firms: (A) J. Swift & Son (1870s); (B) J Swift & Sons (1892, 1906); (C) Claudius Ash & Sons (1886), Reynolds & Branson (1887) and Down Bros (1906); (D) Arnold & Sons (1876; 1879; 1880; 1882; 1886); (E) James How (c. 1875); (F) Negretti & Zambra (1885); and (G) JH Steward (1903).

 

 

A close-up of a newspaper

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A drawing of a lamp burner

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Figure 2. US patent No. 36493 (16.09.1962), attributed to Lewis J. Atwood, describing a lamp burner.