Solar Microscope

the solar microscope is a scientific instrument that projects onto a screen real, greatly enlarged images of an object and therefore allows to demonstrate these views in front of an audience. The light source for this projection is the sun. It was invented by the German physician and naturalist Johann Lieberkuehn around 1740 and soon became very popular among amateur hobbyists and in social gatherings. Its popularity began to wane in the middle of the nineteenth century, when intense artificial sources of light such as the lime light began to be available. The offered solar microscope was made by Jules Bubocq of Paris. The tubular mount for the lenses and the holders of the hinged reflector are attached to a massive square plate which originally was mounted in a way that the reflector showed to the sun-lit out-of-doors and the optical part to the inside of a darkened room. The central knob on top of the plate allows to remotely turn and to pivot the hinged reflector. The optical system is composed of an expandable base-tube with a fine pitch thread mount to hold interchangeable lenses. The microscope comes with two extensions: one with a slot to insert a specimen stage, the other one with a hinged filter holder in front of the lens. The framed reflector is double sided – one face is a silver plated mirror, the other one is made of black glass. The wooden presentation stand is a later addition. This is a rare chance to find a complete solar microscope in such good working condition.