This microscope is one of about 500 manufactured at the Maribyrong Ordnance Factory in Melbourne, and as such is a rare Australian-made microscope. During World War 2, microscopes could not be obtained from outside Australia.

This microscope was used at Melbourne University in the education of students after the war. Classes were large in the early post-war years, and it was estimated that 1300 microscopes would be needed.

The microscope was manufactured in 1946 at Maribyrong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne.

Because optical instruments could not be obtained from overseas during World War 2, a program was established to design and manufacture them, and the optical glass incorporated in them, in Australia. After the war, some members of the team that had worked on this program turned their efforts to making microscopes for use by university students, whose ranks were swelled in the early post-war years by returned servicemen.

It is most likely that this microscope was used by students at the University of Melbourne. The name of that institution is stamped on the tube to the left of the maker's name, and the instrument number A206 is stamped to the left of the institution name. The box has the number A217 handwritten in pencil inside its door, and it is quite common for student instruments to be returned to the 'wrong' box.

Compound monocular microscope, black enamelled body, horseshoe base. Single eyepiece, rack and pinion focussing, square stage, rotating turret with 3 objective positions, 2 objective lenses, plano-concave adjustable mirror. Wooden case, with leather carrying handle.

Made: 1942

On focussing knob --- " Nos.1-9 "
On eyepiece --- "MSL X10 "
On body--- " MSL / 47 "
On objectives in turret --- " ACHRO/16mm 0.27 /COATED 5 X NA 0.10 UNION 31824
--- " U.M. A 206 / MSL MARIBYRONG AUSTRALIA U.Melbourne ACHRO 4 mm. 0.65 1217 "
On body --- "ORDNANCE FACTORY MELB.Aust. U318 " and " U of Melbourne A 206 ".

H9878

1942

360 mm.

185 mm.

240 mm.