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Prince of Wales microscope
Improved form of G. Adam's Universal microscope, made in the 1750s by George Adams (Senior) for George III, while he was still prince of Wales. The instrument, also known as the "Prince of Wales" microscope, is engraved as follows: '"Invented and made by Geo. Adams in Fleet Street, Mathematical Instrument Maker to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales". The microscope stands on a wooden box-foot with two drawers.
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George Adams (1709–1773) was a prominent British maker of scientific instruments and served as Mathematical Instrument Maker to His Majesty George III.
Adams built this microscope as a tribute to the Prince of Wales, the future George III, in the mid-18th century. A notable feature of this instrument is the placement of its trunnions (pivot points on which the microscope is supported) close to its centre of gravity. This unusual arrangement provided greater stability and ease of movement, although Adams did not use it in his later microscopes. The reasons for its abandonment remain unknown.
This microscope is supplied with three interchangeable stages, the platforms used to hold and position specimens. These allowed the microscope to be adapted for precision measurement, general observation, and the examination of live specimens, making it a remarkably versatile instrument.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 490 mm x 200 mm x 220 mm, 3.9 mm,
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy) , mahogany (wood) , glass , speculum (alloy of copper and tin) , shagreen and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- 1925-136 Pt1
- type:
- microscope
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
