Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

      

Microscope 123 (Horne and Thornthwaite; Microscope stand No. 5; c. 1860)

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Horne, Thornthwaite & Wood, Horne & Thornthwaite, and E.G. Wood were a series of London businesses that manufactured and retailed microscopes, cameras, telescopes and other instruments from 1844 until 1911. Horne, Thornthwaite and Wood started their business in 1844 when they took over Edward Palmer’s business in 1844, and they were experts in producing optical and scientific equipment, and chemical supplies for photography and other occupations. Wood later separated from the partnership for some years. Businesses associated with Horne, Thornthwaite, and Wood operated under several names and in different locations over a period of nearly 70 years: (1) Horne, Thornthwaite & Wood (1844 – 1854), opened at 123 Newgate in 1844, occupying also 121 Newgate in 1850 and 122 Newgate in 1856; (2) Horne & Thornthwaite (1854 – 1885), after Wood left the firm in 1854, and moved from Newgate Street to 3 Holborn Viaduct at the beginning of 1874 for a short period of time, and then to 416 Strand; (3) Horne, Thornthwaite & Wood (1885 - 1893), after wood re-joined the partnership; (4) Horne & Thornthwaite (1893 – 1911), after acquisition by Ackland and the Overstall brothers in 1893. Wood traded independently from the partnership as E.G. Wood between 1854 and 1895. William Ackland became associated with Horne and Thornthwaite during the mid-1850s. Ackland was trained as a physician and became a skilled optometrist and mechanical engineer. Ackland’s association with Horne and Thornthwaite came just before the death of Fallon Horne in 1858 (the name Horne and Thornthwaite was retained, without acknowledging Ackland as an owner). Microscope 123 is signed ‘Horne & Thornthwaite, 121, 122 & 123 Newgate Street, London’ and was manufactured c. 1860. This instrument should be a version of microscope stand No. 5 of the company (Figure 1).

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Figure 1. Horne & Thornthwaite’s microscope No. 5 as featured in a 1857 catalogue of the company.

 

References

Thornthwaite & Wood Horne (https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp108862/horne-thornthwaite-wood), last accessed on 05.09.2020

Horne, Thornthwaite and Wood / Horne and Thornthwaite / E.G. Wood (http://microscopist.net/HTW.html), last accessed on 05.09.2020

Compound Microscope, Case and Accessories, c. 1853 (http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/collections/imu-search-page/record-details/?thumbnails=on&irn=7086&TitInventoryNo=53440), last accessed on 05.09.2020