Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

      

Microscope 606 (Optique Commerciale; toy microscope model 408; 1960s)

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The company “L'Optique Commerciale” originated from the former firm A. Decaix, founded in 1858 by Mr. Million. At that time, it primarily manufactured thread counters, magnifying glasses, and spirit levels. In 1900, the limited company “L'Optique Commerciale” was created following the acquisition of the Decaix company by Amédée Couesnon (1850-1931). Its head office was located at 94 rue d'Angoulême, Paris. In 1904, the head office was moved to No. 7 rue de Malte, Paris. In the 1930s, the company offered magnifying glasses, thread counters, camera lucidas, condensers, lenses, prisms, microscopes, and many other products. After World War II, and until 2008, the company's headquarters and sales offices were located at 7 Rue de Malte, Paris. It continued to produce optical instruments, including educational instruments such as the small microscopes like microscope 606 in this collection and used by several generations of students. The brand name “Optico”, short for “Optique Commerciale”, identified most of its products (Figure 1). Microscope 606 is a simple toy microscope, model 408 (Figure 2), labelled with “OPTICO, PARIS, which should be dated to the 1960s.

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Figure 1. Logos commonly found on products produced by Optique Commerciale, Paris.

 

Figure 2. Advert to microscope model 408 by the company Optique Commerciale, Paris, probably dated to the 1970s.