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UNIVERSAL HOUSEHOLD MICROSCOPE
c. 1879-1885
SIGNED: 'UNIVERSAL MICROSCOPE', 'Wm.Y.McALLISTER PHILA.
SERIAL NUMBER: none
MODEL: 'UNIVERSAL' or 'HOUSEHOLD'
DESCRIPTION:
The microscope is a small instrument with a continental limb, and a unique foot. The foot is Y-shaped with the signature of
: 'UNIVERSAL MICROSCOPE', 'Wm.Y.McALLISTER PHILA. in raised golden letters on the semicircular part of the foot which forms the top of a 'Y.' It rises on a relatively long single pillar to an inclination joint at the top supporting the L-shaped arm. A column is attached by screw to the center of this arm to support the stage, stage clip and the single-sided concave gimbaled mirror. Focusing is by sliding the tube in its sleeve. There are three stacking French button objectives, and a lyre-shaped stage clip, also in the French style, which slides on the pillar.
HISTORY
The W.Y. McAllister version of the 'Household' or 'Universal' microscope was made by the same French firm that made many other 'Household' microscopes. The optical tube of this scope is
identical to the Walmsley, Queen and Beck instruments.
Although W.Y. McAllister stated this was 'T.H. McAllister's' design, it is actually a French import and bears the name of W.Y. McAllister on the foot rather than T.H. McAllister's.
I have not found a microscope of this later date with T.H. McAllister's signature, although it was said he did eventually import his own version, having, in earlier years, made the original model in the U.S.A. The history of the origin of the 'Household' microscope is shown in a separate page on this site.
