Name/TitleEquipment: Monocular Microscope Belonging to Sir Joseph Verco
About this objectEquipment: Monocular Microscope belonging to Sir Joseph Verco, manufactured by ‘George Dixon London’, with original case and spare ocular.
Purchased and used by (Sir) Dr Joseph C. Verco during his study at St. Bartholomew's and London University, 1872 – 1876. The pillar, Continental style, scope is engraved 'Geo Dixon Maker London No 3786'.
South Australian Sir Joseph Cooke Verco, 1854-1933, studied medicine and forensic medicine in the UK and worked as house physician, then midwifery assistant, in St Bartholomew's Hospital London during 1876-1877. Returning to South Australia in 1878 he had a career in general practice, and as a physician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide Children's Hospital. He was a lecturer and founding member of the University of Adelaide Medical School, a member of the university's council, Acting Dean and then Dean of the medical and dental faculties, and instrumental in the establishment of the dental school. He held positions with the South Australian Branch of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and was a president and founding member of the South Australian Branch of the British Medical Association. He was elected President of the first Intercolonial Medical Congress of Australasia in 1887. Verco was knighted in 1919 for his medical services. The Verco Ward at the old Royal Adelaide Hospital was named after him. Built in 1921, it was demolished in 1963.
Microscope technical specifications:
Brass monocular (single lens) body tube/barrel secured to the limb by rack mechanism, with horseshoe shaped feet. An arm is attached to the base with an inclination joint which can be moved using the chrome lever for more comfortable viewing. Attached on a brass dovetail slide with chrome rack, pinion coarse and fine adjustment operating knobs at top of arm with lacquered wide field 8X eyepiece tubes, knurled ring rack, interpupillary distance knob adjuster and vernier with a polished chrome finished quadruple rotating nosepiece/turret holding four marked objective lenses Watson B7329 x40, WatsonE1235 x50, WatsonE1502 x90 and WatsonE1262 x10 underneath. Attached at bottom of the arm is a grey mechanical stage with object holder and verniers, with chrome centering, geared rack and pinion transverse adjustment screw, bracket and clamping screws. There is also a semi-detachable sub-stage on brass dovetail slides with separate horizontal mechanisms. On a brass dovetail slide underneath the sub- stage is a chrome finished condenser with knurled knob and lever for aperture iris and chrome diaphragm with turning and centering knobs. Attached on a brass swivel lever under the stage and between the feet is a one-sided diverting plane mirror (reflects light upwards).
Monocular:
A single tube with interchangeable eyepieces one end, and 1 or more objective lens (often on a revolving turret) the other end. Objects viewed through a monocular microscope will always look flat and without depth. Monocular microscopes are used to study true microscopic sized animals, plants and cells.
Date MadeCa 1870
Place MadeLondon, England
Medium and MaterialsWood, metal, glass
MeasurementsBox: H21 x W17 x D13.5 cm
Subject and Association KeywordsJoseph Cooke Verco
Object TypeEquipment
Object numberAR#917
