Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

Microscope 396 (Bausch & Lomb; stereo microscope, model SSM15; 1960s)

Bausch & Lomb was founded by two immigrants from Germany, Jacob Bausch, and Henry Lomb. Bausch was both an optician and woodworker by training. Their company first became successful with the use of hard rubber eyeglass frames. This eventually allowed expansion of the business into other optical areas including microscopes. Bausch’s son Edward learned to make microscopes, and the company prospered after it began to manufacture them. The first patent granted to Bausch was for a very simple Linen prover type microscope in 1865. About 1874, the firm started to produce both simple and compound microscopes. In 1890 Edward Bausch contacted Carl Zeiss, a German optics firm, and soon arranged for Bausch & Lomb to license Zeiss’s patents, with the exclusive rights to the U.S. market. In 1907 Zeiss bought 20% of Bausch & Lomb, granting the company free use of Zeiss patents in the United States. In 1915 Zeiss sold its 20% share back to Bausch & Lomb, and until 1921, the two companies had no dealings with one another (although Bausch & Lomb continued to use Zeiss patents). In 1926 Jacob Bausch died, and Edward Bausch became chairman of the board. In 1937 Bausch & Lomb went public. The Bausch & Lomb's optical systems division was bought by Cambridge Instruments in 1987, using the name Cambridge instruments. Cambridge Instruments merged with Wild-Leitz in 1990 to form Leica plc. Microscope 396 is a science stereo microscope, model SSM15 (15x), made by Bausch & Lomb (Figure 1). The instrument is labelled with “BAUSCH & LOMB”, “MADE IN U.S.A.”, and should be dated to the 1960s. This microscope was primarily designed for high school students and those in the upper elementary grades.

Note: this instrument was kindly donated by Dave Levell (Pembrokeshire, Wales) in May 2023.

Figure 1. Bausch & Lomb’s stereo SSM15 microscope as engraved in a 1960s catalogue of the firm.