Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

    

Microscope 477 (J. Zentmayer; dissecting microscope; c. 1890)

A close-up of a microscope Description automatically generatedA close-up of a microscope Description automatically generatedA gold metal device with a magnifying glass Description automatically generatedA gold and black microscope Description automatically generatedA close-up of a microscope Description automatically generatedA close-up of a microscope Description automatically generatedA gold and black microscope Description automatically generated

 

Joseph Zentmayer (1826 – 1888) worked as an instrument maker in Germany before emigrating to the USA in 1848. Zentmayer started his own business in 1853 for making mathematical instruments. He made his first microscope in about 1856 and continued producing these instruments during the following 30 years. After Zentmayer’s death in 1888, his sons continued to supply microscopes signed with his name until at least 1895. The firm traded from 147 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, USA (1853 – 1876) and 209 South Eleventh Street, Philadelphia (from 1876). Microscope 477 is a simple dissecting microscope, which is engraved with “J ZENTMAYER, PHIL A”. The instrument should be dated to c. 1890 and came with its original wooden box. According to an 1895 catalogue of the firm (Figure 1), this microscope was designed to meet the requirements of Prof. J. T. Rothrock, of the University of Pennsylvania, for use in his botanical classes.

 

A close-up of a microscope Description automatically generated

Figure 1. Zentmayer’s dissecting microscope as engraved in an 1895 catalogue of the firm (left) and in the 1885 book “The microscope in botany” by Julius Behrens (right).