DESCRIPTION:
This is an example of the high power pocket-sized simple microscope made by Leitz starting in the first quarter of the 20th century and made into the second quarter. It is all metal and comes in its original red leather case. There are three different lenses for three different magnifications as shown. These include 40X, 80X and 120X, the latter delaminated. The opening in the microscope is spring loaded. The opening is small, only accepting the small size slides, not standard slides. A 1924 catalog differentiated this slightly larger apparatus from a 'algensucher' which was a self-contained apparatus meant to be used to detect diatoms and similar microscopic life forms in a given sample of water, from for instance, a pond. In reality, this Leitz instrument very closely resembles the original (earlier) Algunsucher of Thum. Even the provision of the two small slides, meant to be used to sandwhich the specimen in between them, is like Thum's original Algensucher.

HISTORY OF SMALL POCKET MICROSCOPES:
The term 'Taschenmikroskop' was used to describe both miniature versions of full blown compound microscopes like the Tami series, and also small little simple microscopes like this one. My Review of Pocket Microscopes reviews the history of some of the many early compound and some simple instruments.

Many small simple pocket microscopes were made over the years and they ranged from cheap low power, low resolution instruments like the 'microscope or floroscope' to high quality higher power instruments like the one shown on this page. Many of these were for special purposes and the reader is referred those articles about specific types such as 'algunsuchers', linen testers, photographic magnifiers, hand lenses, etc, on this website.