Notes on the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society Microscopes

 In cataloguing the contents of the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society archive cupboard stored at the Doncaster Museum and Archives building, Chequer Road, Doncaster an inventory was made of our collection of Microscopes and associated literature.

The DNS started life in 1880 as the Doncaster Microscopical Society, quickly expanding its scope as the Doncaster Microscopical and General Scientific Society. One of the founder members was the pharmacist Mathew Henry Stiles (1846-1935), who also sold microscopes and photographic paraphernalia.

In the late 19^th century the society annually held elaborate public meetings referred to rather grandly as ‘Conversaziones’. These were held in the town’s Guild Hall or the Mansion House and included public lectures, exhibitions, music and refreshments. In a photograph of one of the exhibitions of microscopy at the Mansion House it is possible to see our microscope set up and presided over by the corpulent presence of John Maw Kirk, one of our notable experts in microscopic life.

 Description of the instruments in the DNS Archives

 1] Microscope: Smith, Beck & Beck, London.

Lacquered brass folding monocular microscope on cast triangular base with engraved serial number 4297 and range of accessories in Mahogany ‘clamshell’ case with brass handle and catches (see Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 2. Microscope, dismantled and stored in case with accessories.

Figure 3. Detail of cast triangular base with engraved serial number 4297.

Figure 4. Microscope assembled and ready for use. 

Internet ref. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co528322/universal-microscope-compound-monocular-microscopes

The Wellcome Collection (via the Science Museum, London) has a compound acromatic microscope of 1857 by Smith and Beck which looks very similar to the Doncaster specimen. [Described as “Educational type microscope, suitable for routine work”] It comes with an accompanying booklet.

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Internet ref. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp105424/smith-beck

Traded earlier as Smith & Beck with Joseph Beck working on his own (1851-1857). Succeeded by R & J Beck (1865-1894).

Traded at 6 Coleman St., (1848-57), & Pear tree Cottage, Holloway Rd., (1855-57), both London England. First worked independently as James Smith (1826-1847), later took Richard Low Beck as apprentice and partner. Succeeded by Smith, Beck & Beck

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Internet ref. https://asiuk.net/mkrbec/Beckmicroscopes.htm gives the following information:

MICROSCOPES FROM THE SMITH & BECK DYNASTY

When the newly founded Microscopical Society placed their first orders for microscopes in 1841, they went to the three leading makes: James Smith, Andrew Ross and Hugh Powell. James Smith was given the order, ahead of both Ross and Powell. Richard Beck, a nephew of J.J. Lister was sent to Smith as an apprentice and in 1847 he was taken into partnership so that the firm became known as Smith & Beck. In 1851 Richard’s brother Joseph joined the firm. Joseph Beck had already served an apprenticeship with the famed Troughton and Simms and in 1857 Joseph was also made a partner and the firm’s name changed to Smith, Beck & Beck. James Smith retired in 1864 and the firm’s name changed to R. & J. Beck in 1865. James Smith died in 1870. R & J Beck became a limited company in 1894 and was eventually taken over by Griffin & George Ltd. in 1960. [the DNS microscope was therefore manufactured between Joseph Beck joining the firm in 1857 and James Smith’s retirement in 1864].

Figure 5. 

“Popular Microscope” as listed by Richard Beck in The Achromatic Microscope 1865. This all-brass microscope comes with its accessories in it’s fitted “clamshell” type case. The name is cast into the triangular folding stand and the number [of the specimen in the article] 5221 is engraved on the base of the microscope dating it to 1868. There is a circular rotating stage with slide bar, rack & pinion main focus and thumbwheel fine focus, and a single-sided mirror below the stage. The microscope comes with a range of accessories in two drawers, including a wheel of stops sub-stage condenser, a live box, a high power eyepiece, 2 objectives and some antique microscope slides and slide preparation parts. All this comes in the original case with brass handle, catches and lock but no key, together with the instructions on how to use it in “The Achromatic Microscope” by Richard Beck 1865.” [https://asiuk.net/mkrbec/Beckmicroscopes.htm]

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Internet ref. http://www.microscopist.net/SmithJ.html

Figure 6.

2] Microscope:  Ex Open University Stereoscopic Microscope. Manufacturer ‘ORION’ Model S420 No. 75-4029 with 10X eyepiece. Acquired by DNS 1997.

BOTTOM SHELF:

3] Microscope: Petrological Microscope 3 objectives and 2 eyepieces.
Manufacturer C and D Scientific Instruments, Hemel Hempstead. Serial no. 7316
(in cardboard Box).

Text C. A. Howes (2025)

Photos: Nora Boyle