Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



77 



A Makeshift Photo-Micrographic 

 Apparatus. 



Geo. D. Fikmin. 

 Many persons interested in photog- 

 raphy and also in microscopy are 

 deterred from combining the two on 

 account of the expensive apparatus sup- 

 posed to be necessary. A special outfit, 

 so far as ease of manipulation is con- 

 cerned, is undoubtedly preferable to 

 makeshift appliances. Good work can, 

 however, be done with the latter, pro- 

 vided one works intelligently. In the 

 following description I suppose the pos- 

 session of a microscope and a camera 

 box. As a matter of fact, a camera is 

 not necessary, as any tight box adjusted 

 to receive a plate-holder is sufficient. 

 In my own case, as I happened to pos- 



The condenser "F" is placed on the 

 same block, or may stand to one side 

 provided the lens centers accurately with 

 the microscope. 



The illumination is by a Welsbach 

 light. "H" is a sheet-iron chimney pro- 

 vided with a slit covered with cobalt 

 blue glass. It is necessary that the 

 whole be accurately centered or distor- 

 tion will result. The microscope is 

 focused by a thread "T" passing around 

 the fine adjustment head, through the 

 eyelets "S" and "S," and terminating in 

 weights conveniently placed near the 

 hand. By this means high-power 

 objectives may be focused with com- 

 parative ease. That the microscope may 

 always be in line with the rest of the 

 apparatus, it is well to tack short strips 

 of wood to the block "N" to serve as 





sess an 8x10, I used it with kits and 

 4X5 plates. A 4X5 camera would be 

 much more easily arranged. The sketch 

 will almost explain itself. "A" is the 

 bed plate, consisting of a pine board 

 three feet six inches long by nine inches 

 wide with side strips or guides one-half 

 inch by one inch high. In the center of 

 this is a row of one-quarter inch holes, 

 two and one-half inches apart. These 

 are to receive the clamping pin in "Z" (a 

 small carriage bolt) to hold the micro- 

 scope steady. "B" is a sliding piece nine 

 inches by twelve inches, to which is 

 screwed the camera body "C." The 

 front "D" is fixed in position by a clamp 

 passing through one of the holes in the 

 bed, so the back "d" is used to focus. 

 "E" is a cone of cardboard lined with 

 black paper and having a piece of mail- 

 ing-tube lined with felt or velvet fixed 

 in its small end to fit over the microscope 

 tube. The microscope "M" is clamped 

 to a wooden block "N" to raise it to the 

 proper height to center with the camera. 



guides. Any size plate may be used, but 

 a 4X5 is most convenient. 



A color screen or Bausch & Lomb 

 bichromate cell will often be of service. 

 Not possessing the latter, I have used 

 with considerable success a carbutt 

 aurantia screen set in slides in the 

 camera front "X." If a screen is used 

 it is well to use a plain glass slide 

 instead of cobalt glass in front of the 

 light. 



With high-power objectives, as one- 

 twelfth inch oil immersion, long expos- 

 ures are necessary. Care must then be 

 taken not to jar the outfit, as the slight- 

 est touch will throw it out of focus. If 

 a caniera box be improvised, I would 

 suggest that the ground glass be hinged 

 so as to swing out of the way and allow 

 the plate-holder to take its place. If 

 the glass is spring-actuated, there is 

 considerable jar in adjusting the plate- 

 holder and the result is loss of focus. A 

 cover glass cemented to the center of the 

 ground glass is a help in fine focusing. 



