DESCRIPTION:

This is a relatively small Lister-Limb microscope with a foot and double upright supports similar to many Bausch & Lomb models ranging from the smaller Compound Agriculturist Model, to the larger Model Microscope. It is signed on the stage: QUEEN&CO. PHILA., 3197. It features a round stage with with stage clips. There is diagonal rack and pinion coarse focusing but no fine focusing and no substage. There is a nickel-plated draw tube. The swinging substage mirror can provide normal illumination, swing to the side for oblique illumination, or swing above the stage for top lighting for opaque subjects. It comes with its original hardwood case with handle.

HISTORY OF THE ACME No. 6 SOLD BY QUEEN
The No. 6 was introduced by Queen about 1900. It is very similar to the late iteration of the 2nd version of the Bausch & Lomb Library model (sold from 1886-1896). The first version of the Library model had a Gundlach style foot with straight-toothed rack and pinion. The second version (1886-96) had a simpler foot as seen on the microscope featured above on this page. The second version initally had a straight-toothed rack and pinion, but later examples had the diagonal-toothed rack and pinion found on the Acme No. 6. A version of the earlier iteration of the second version of the Libary microscope with straight-toothed rack and pinIon, but sold by McAllister is in this collection. In addition to having a straight-toothed rack and pinion, the McAllister, has, like the first version of the B & L, and also the first iteration of the second version of the B & L, a French button objectives, and a smaller diameter single convex mirror. The two microscopes have identical feet and uprights. The limb is slightly thicker on the Queen, which also has a larger diameter mirror which was originally two sided, flat on one side and concave on the other. The knurling of the knob is slightly different on each. Furthermore, the draw tube on the Queen Acme No. 6 extends beyond its knurled lip, whereas the McAllister draw tube ends at that lip. Lastly, the slide for the rack is longer on the Queen Acme No. 6, but shorter on both the McAllister and the older Bausch & Lombs. Both the McAllister and the Acme No. 6 are the same height in working configuration.

For a history of all the Sidle and Acme microscopes, please see my page on the Sidle No. 2. For a history of the the Queen company, please see Brian Stevenson's extensive discussion of Queen on his website. For a history of the Bausch & Lomb Library microscope, see the page about the McAllister Model.