Microscope

[jbaird]

Forgive me if this has been covered already. I am looking for recommendations for a medical/clinical lab grade microscope that would not be Tango Uniform without electricity. I am in a medical technology program and the scopes we use in school are all electric light source that can do oil immersion at the outer limits of light microscopy in terms of resolution. I am looking for a tough simple scope that would be of the same quality and approaching the same resolution but more suitable for a remote lab in a developing country that may have inconsistent or limited power.

Thanks in advance.

[Reasonable Rascal]

I ran across some Russian microscopes that were powerful enough for blood work that would use a non-electric source for light. They were even binocular but ran around $600-800 as I recall, complete with wooden case, etc. Has been a few years but they seemed to offer the bext non-electric alternative. Last I knew the company didn't carry them any more though.

RR

[jbaird]

I ended up getting a Czech Army Surplus Field Microscope surplus but new. I have included the link below. It hasn't arrived yet but I will give a review here when it does. This is the most expensive piece of my home lab so I am buying it first. My next purchase is a hand cranked centrifuge I have found these on eBay already and they aren't that expensive. With a 100x lens I should be able to do oil immersion. I got the OD one and it looks very similar to the microscope described in the book A Medical Laboratory for Developing Countries.

Link

http://www.swisslink.com/products/product.php?id=1064&sid=15

[jbaird]

Ok my microscope arrived this past Thursday and I have only had a chance to take a quick look at it as I had exams in chemistry, genetics and immunology this week. It appears to have been made during the cold war and stored and never used. It is basically immaculate. it evan has a rubber seal where the cover goes over the base. It comes with a small slide box, oil for oil immersion. Basically read to go up to 100x with oil immersion. The metal parts are covered with something akin to cosmoline so if anyone has any reccomendations for cleaning parts such as the rough and fine adjustment and the mechanical stage let me know. Basically this thing is definitely designed to keep ticking when the SHTF and the grid goes down I am definitely pleased.

Oh yes how do I post pictures here?