Microscope without a tube
Date
17th century
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p9
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 303mm
width (page): 180mm
width (page): 180mm
Subject
Content object
scientific environment & equipment
> instrument
scientific environment & equipment
> microscope
scientific environment & equipment
> telescope
> instrument
scientific environment & equipment
> microscope
scientific environment & equipment
> telescope
Description
Two figures, in the hand of Henry Oldenburg, explain how to set up lenses without tubes. The figure to the left shows a pole with pulleys at each end, which enable the object glass fitted on a wooden ring to move. The ring has four holes through which threads are fixed, and the other end of those threads are fastened to the four holes in a knob which holds the object glass. The threads held by the knob keep the glasses aligned and at the correct distance. This principle can be applied to both microscopes and telescopes, but it is suggested that additional support would be needed for use as a telescope.
A drawing of Christian Huygens's design of an aerial telescope based on a similar principle, as studied by Robert Hooke, may be found in Cl.P/20/62/007.
A drawing of Christian Huygens's design of an aerial telescope based on a similar principle, as studied by Robert Hooke, may be found in Cl.P/20/62/007.
Related fellows
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent