American Optical Co., Spencer Microscope.

[Motorman55]

My neighbor who just moved away and was throwing out his old college microscope. He's in his early 70's, so I'm thinking its at least 50 yeas old. All the lenses are good and all the dials and adjusters work including the lamp. Don't know what exactly I'll do with it, but thought I'd get it all cleaned up and maybe put it up on a shelf or something.

Overall its in fine shape, just needs a really good cleaning. Any recommendations on what cleaners use to clean the lenses and the knobs?

 

[RTM]

There is a website that has all the manuals for AO microscopes. If you know your model number, it’ll tell you accessory parts, too.

I think this is it.

Microscopes

 

[Motorman55]

There is a website that has all the manuals for AO microscopes. If you know your model number, it’ll tell you accessory parts, too.

I think this is it.

Microscopes

Thanks for the info!

 

[Dave455]

For cleaning the knobs I’d just use a trace of spirit on a rag. Maybe a brush to clean out the knurling.

I’d be very careful cleaning the lenses. I don’t have much experience with microscopes, but in lenses generally, some of the glass compositions can be incredibly soft, and are very easily scratched.

Generally, it’s advised to start with a blower, or a soft lens brush, to remove any dust. Unfortunately, in the real world old lenses can have dirt that needs a lot more removing. A proper lens cleaning cloth and plenty of fluid are the best bet.

 

[RoninB4]

I briefly worked for American Optical as a tech back the late 70's. On the bench or on the road we used Sparkle glass cleaner for the lenses unless they were coated. Not a special formula at all, straight from the grocery store shelves. Coated optics and first surface mirrors (look this up) often had a fragile surface, if was considered better to simply flood Sparkle across the lens/mirror to carry off any dust particles and NOT use a mechanical (Q-tips, cotton balls) means of cleaning. First surface mirrors are/were also often found in an optical comparator (shadow graph) which are regularly used in machine shops for precision inspection. The first surface mirror in those can/will be destroyed before your eyes if wiped off with a cotton ball. Hope this helped.

 

[cannuck]

Put it on a shelf? Yes, but for crying out loud, USE it. There is a whole fascinating world right before our very eyes (that are too week to see much on their own).

 

[Bubba Fett]

I also think you should use it. I believe you can get camera adapters, so you can do microscopic photography. That might end up becoming a fun and rewarding hobby.

 

[RTM]

Mine is a low power wide field unit, Model 59M-2, and I used it for fountain pen maintenance and repair most recently. It also serves for viewing edge tools while I sharpen damaged ones.

Forget what else it got dragged in on, but we were looking at the metal structure of something vintage just for giggles, could see the line of hardened steel attached to the softer steel on an old edge tool.

I have a Celestron and some other cell phone adapter I’ve used to take pix. Something like this, both are a bit fidgety.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LCHLDWS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093TJ4WLL/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Beerhippie]

I have a Spencer of Buffalo stereo dissecting 'scope I've used for years. It about 100 years older than yours. I need to get it out and give it a good cleaning. I also have an old Leitz binocular compound 'scope of about the same vintage. It need some optical work, but otherwise entire.