PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 203 



(b) The fact that makers will renovate and repair lenses for 



an indefinite period, and will make good any de- 

 terioration due to spontaneous changes. 



(c) The uniformly good workmanship and cheap prices. 



English stands are in many ways just as good value for the money 

 <is Continental, but rightly or wrongly there has developed the impres- 

 sion that English lenses are not of a uniform quality. Makers are 

 credited with turning out a few first-class lenses, which are highly 

 praised by experts, but when the student buys a lens he is often disap- 

 pointed. Before the trade can be captured for British makers they 

 must be able to turn out large numbers of cheap lenses of good quality 

 and of good keeping properties. They can if they choose easily compete 

 in the matter of stands. 



The mounting of the lenses is very important. They should not be 

 •capable of being easily unscrewed, and the setting should be strong and 

 accurate. The use of aluminium is not desirable in any constructional 

 part of the instrument. 



It is only by specializing on a Jew models that the above prices can he 

 made prcifitahlc, and even then only by securing a very large output of high 

 und uniform quality. 



All available information would seem to indicate that the day of the 

 small maker of either stands or lenses has passed. The high standard of 

 excellence now insisted upon, together with the low prices to which buyers of 

 microscopes have become accustomed as a direct result of foreign competition, 

 ivould seem to show that the successful manufacturers of the future must be 

 corporations of sufficient size to make it possible for them to utilize scientific 

 guidance to the fidl, and to avail themselves to the greatest possible extent 

 of special and labour-sewing machinery for their work. 



