Microscopes, 17th Century Leeuwenhoek Microscope, c 1670

Microscopes, 17th Century Leeuwenhoek Microscope, c 1670. Replica. This microscope was made by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), a Dutch microscopist who was the first to observe bacteria and protozoa using his own simple microscopes. This one consists of a single double convex lens mounted between two thin brass plates riveted together. The object to be examined is held in front of a lens on the point of a short rod which is mounted on a small brass block loosely riveted to coarse-threaded screw; this acts through a socket angle-piece attached to the lower end of the plates by a thumb-screw. In this way the object can be brought in front of the lens, and focusing is effected by a thumb-screw passing through the mounting block and acting against the plates. ©SSPL/Science Museum