Rare Collectibles

1918 Bausch & Lomb Monocular Microscope

$150.00

  • Details
    ANTIQUE-Made in USA Rochester, NY
    Serial# 130120 (glass made 1918)
    Weighs 8 lb 3 oz (Brass, Metal, Cast Iron, Glass)
    Measures 13" Tall 6.75" Deep 4" wide
    The arm does reciprocate but does not have tension bolt key
    Good condition considering age (some paint discoloration, spots on brass, one slide clip holder missing)

    Originally started by John Jacob Bausch in 1853 as a tiny optical goods shop in Rochester, New York, the company became the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company in 1863 after his friend Henry Lomb mustered out of the army.
    Before he volunteered, Lomb had lent Bausch $60 and continued to support his friend with money out of his army pay check, on the promise of becoming a partner when the company made a profit.
    The first compound microscope was produced in 1874 shortly after Bausch’s son Edward joined the company.
    The company went from success to success and by 1903 had patents for microscopes and binoculars. It has now grown to become one of the largest global providers of eye care products.
    For the next 100 years, Bausch + Lomb was one of the oldest continually operating companies in the United States, and were the third biggest supplier of microscopes in the world. Warburg Pincus had led a group of investors in acquiring Bauch & Lomb on October 26, 2007, taking the company private and becoming its largest and controlling shareholder.
    In May 2013, Canadian-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals announced that it would acquire Bausch + Lomb from Warburg Pincus for $4.5 billion in cash. The deal, which was approved by shareholders, closed on August 5, 2013.
    I bet ole' Henry Lomb made his $60 before passing away the age of 79 on June 13, 1908.

    ** Historical Note-In 1929, US Army Air Corps Colonel John A. Macready worked with Bausch & Lomb, a Rochester, New York-based medical equipment manufacturer, to create aviation sunglasses that would reduce the distraction for pilots caused by the intense blue and white hues of the sky. Specifically, MacCready was concerned about how pilots' goggles would fog up, greatly reducing visibility at high altitudes. The prototype, created in 1936 and known as "Anti-Glare", had plastic frames and green lenses that could cut out the glare without obscuring vision. It went on sale to the public in 1937. Impact-resistant lenses were added in 1938!
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