Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

    

Microscope 511 (Benn Franks Limited; early 20th century)

A brass telescope with a wooden box Description automatically generatedA gold and black light bulb Description automatically generatedA gold and black metal object Description automatically generatedA gold colored microscope Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA gold colored metal object Description automatically generated with medium confidenceA gold metal object with a black rubber tip Description automatically generatedA gold metal object with a black base Description automatically generated

Benn Franks was born in Manchester in 1862, the seventh of the ten children, and by 1891 he became an optician living at 88 Bury New Road Salford. In 1895 he married Helena Mindlesohn and they settled in Hull. Benn Franks Opticians had branches in that city as well as in Doncaster, Hanley and Oldham. The company was listed in several Trade Directories and advertised in the Staffordshire Sentinel in 1915. Benn Franks died in Hull in 1940. Microscope 511 is a simple drum microscope and was probably made in the early 20th century. The original wooden box of the instrument contains a plate engraved with ‘BENN FRANKS, 44 SAVILE ST., AND AT HULL, DONCASTER, HANLEY, ETC’ but it is likely that this firm was simply a retailer for these microscopes.