MICSCAPE
(ISSN 1365 - 070x)

Exploring the miniature world

Issue 197: March 2012.
Next update April 13th.

 

 

Image left supplied by R Jordan Kreindler.

 

 

Microscopy-UK welcomes you to Micscape Magazine

This magazine is best viewed at 1024 x768, 24 bit colour.

About Micscape

 
Issue 197 - March 2012 : Articles this month

Micscape Contacts
Micscape Editor:
David Walker
Comments on Micscape and
contributions welcomed.

Micscape submission guidelines .

Microscopy-UK
parent site coordinator:
Maurice Smith

Columbia Instruments' FM 600, a unique US Army field microscope Part 1: Background and development - R Jordan Kreindler (USA) presents an in depth article on this microscope and includes both first hand material from the makers, Columbia Instruments, and a video showing aspects of its manufacture.

Building a double gooseneck white LED illuminator for a stereomicroscope using modular coolant hose - Richard Garber (USA) shares a design for a cold light source.

A Bausch and Lomb Greenough stereo microscope - Michael Much (USA) describes the renovation of an antique example. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Powered USB hubs, uses for the microscopist - Andy Chick (UK) describes a dual gooseneck LED light source using such a hub. (In Acrobat pdf format.)
A review of the Offord x20 microscope - Andy Chick (UK) assesses this good value and useful model. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

A winter spider - Anthony Thomas (Canada) shares an illustrated article exploring this attractive arachnid on the macro and micro scale. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Matching different makes - Fritz Schulze (Canada) describes the modifications required to install Vickers epi objectives onto a Zeiss Photomicroscope.

A close-up view of 'Forest Frost hens and chicks' - Brian Johnston (Canada) illustrates the macro and micro features of this plant.
Thomas Davies ca. 1831 - 1876 - Brian Stevenson (USA) presents evidence that the popular book 'The Preparation and Mounting of Microscopic Objects' has been wrongly attributed to the London based mineralogist Thomas Davies, rather than the amateur microscopist Thomas Davies of Warrington. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Microscope slide maker “W M P” probably William Melville Paterson, 1856-1884 - Brian Stevenson (USA) suggests a likely identification of the mounter whose slides are labelled 'WMP' and whose scarce diatom slides are sometimes seen. (In Acrobat pdf format.)
A seamless broad field condenser - part 3. Refinements: the polar route. - Paul James (UK) continues his article series on developing a versatile condenser.

The Novitiate’s Odyssey episode eight: Microscopy vs. Astronomy. Finally, the definitive answer as to why Astronomy is more popular - G. Joseph Wilhelm (USA) continues his series with observations when attending a local Florida Keys 'star party' and the insight it provides into the relative popularity of the two hobbies.

Updated article: The diatomist John Albert Long (1863 - 1945): Notes on aspects of his life and work with examples of his prepared slides - David Walker (UK), December 2012 issue. Additions: Photograph of Long when at teacher training college in 1882, and notes on Long's article on the local diatom flora near his Bradford home.

       

We are delighted to receive contributions small or large from microscopy enthusiasts whether a novice or expert. If you have an image, tip or article, why not share it, this magazine is what you make it! Have a chat with us , to see how we can help share your interests. Submission guidelines .
Archive
Look for that elusive article on our site:
Micscape Magazine past issues online (read articles online using the original illustrated index for each month).
Article Library (browse articles by category)
Automated Search (a search engine for keyword searches in all articles)
Contributor index (a list of all Micscape contributors to date)
News - special notices - misc.

Meeting: "The Leeds Microscopical Society is having its annual meeting in Morley on Sat 2nd June 2012. The theme this year is "Rocks, crystals & polarised light".
Anyone wanting to book a table (sales or display) should contact me at mikesmith_ls176sh@yahoo.co.uk or phone 0113 2935991. Many thanks Mike Smith, Hon Sec." With thanks to Mike for the information.
External links. Below are some of our favourites, which includes sites with extensive links and/or resources for the optical microscopy enthusiast.

External Microscopy forums:
Places to discuss the hobby or to raise queries.

www.amateurmicrography.net forums, galleries, articles on macroscopy and photomicrography.

www.quekett.net/forum/index.php forum for both Quekett Microscopical Club members and other enthusiasts.

Newsgroups
sci.techniques.microscopy (spoilt by excessive spam nowadays)

Yahoo groups: a ' P' denotes current and archived messages are public i.e. not limited to members.
'Amateur Microscopy' P (started November2008)
'Yahoo Diatom Forum' P
' Microscope 'P (>1500 members, very active)
' Microscopes '
'Microscopehobby' P (started Apr 2005)
'RealMicroscopy' P (started Sep 2005)
' Óptica Roma foro Microscopía' for Spanish speakers
' Wild M20 microscope '
' Nikon Coolpix photomicro and macrophoto '
' microcosmo ' ( for Italian speaking enthusiasts)
' CombineZ ' P stacking software forum created by the software's author

Mikroskopie-Treff.de (Extensive German microscopy forum; some English categories.)
Mikrobiologische Vereinigung München e. V. W ide range of articles and resources in German.
Le Naturaliste French based forum and image gallery for micro / macro but open to non French speaking international contributors.

Other sites
Beyond Magazine science, microscopy for youngsters
Clubs / Socs (Pro/Am) Mic-UK links page
Light Microscopy Forum links and articles
Little Imp Publications public domain books on CD. (Hosted by Savona Books).
Mikroskop Museum German website with resources on microscopes / makers .
Molecular Expressions awesome optical microscopy resources
Dennis Kunkel's SEM images stunning images
Diatoms Ireland - resource site by Leszek Wolnik
Leitz museum an illustrated resource compiled by Robert Allen
Microbe hunter a free monthly microscopy enthusiast magazine edited by Oliver Kim
Microscopies online magazine and Forum for French speakers
Micrographia articles, projects for the enthusiast
Microscopy Today paper journal with online archive
Modern Microscopy online journal by McCrone Group
Fun Science Gallery projects, articles on optics
G. Couger's microscopy links extensive links
Society for Amateur Scientists resources and support
A Cabinet of Curiosities a resource on Victorian microscope slides by Howard Lynk
www.viewsfromscience.com projects e.g. chilled stage for crystal growth studies and LED fluorescence
'Diatoms Ireland' resource by Leszek Wolnik
Historical makers of microscopes and microscope slides Brian Stevenson's extensive resource on Victorian slide makers

Web rings
Lightscapes polarised light macroscopy/microscopy, both artistic and scientific.

Microscopy-UK and Micscape - established 1995
Micscape is a free magazine for enthusiasts funded by Microscopy-UK and dedicated to non-commercial microscopy.
© Onview.net Ltd, Microscopy-UK, and all contributors 1995 onwards. All rights reserved. Main site is at www.microscopy-uk.org.uk