osmigo@ut-emx.UUCP (rn) (08/17/90)
I would appreciate any information anyone can give me regarding a good place to get a microscope and a decent price. This would be just for home use by an amateur biologist, so it doesn't have to be some $5,000 lab instrument, but then it can't be a $10 toy 'scope from K-Mart, either. Can someone direct me to a mail order firm, or perhaps a magazine or journal with advertisements for this kind of merchandise? I haven't the slightest idea where to look. Ron Morgan osmigo@emx.utexas.edu
afsipmh@cid.aes.doe.CA (Patrick Hertel) (08/17/90)
In article <36242@ut-emx.UUCP> osmigo@ut-emx.UUCP (rn) writes: >I would appreciate any information anyone can give me regarding a good place >to get a microscope and a decent price. This would be just for home use by >an amateur biologist, so it doesn't have to be some $5,000 lab instrument, but >then it can't be a $10 toy 'scope from K-Mart, either. Can someone direct me >to a mail order firm, or perhaps a magazine or journal with advertisements >for this kind of merchandise? I haven't the slightest idea where to look. > >Ron Morgan >osmigo@emx.utexas.edu DITTO. Accept read "dissecting microscope". -- Pat Hertel Canadian Meteorological Centre Analyst/Programmer 2121 N. Service Rd. phertel@cmc.aes.doe.ca Dorval,Quebec Environment Canada CANADA H9P1J3
new@ee.udel.edu (Darren New) (08/17/90)
In article <1990Aug17.124338.20284@cid.aes.doe.CA> afsipmh@cid.aes.doe.CA (Patrick Hertel) writes: > DITTO. Accept read "dissecting microscope". You might want to check out Edmund's Scientific in New Jersey. Sorry, I don't have the address here. They usually have pretty good prices on optics, including microscopes and telescopes. It's on the Black Horse Pike, I think (or near it, anyway). They also do mailorder. -- Darren -- --- Darren New --- Grad Student --- CIS --- Univ. of Delaware ---
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (08/17/90)
In article <1990Aug17.124338.20284@cid.aes.doe.CA>, afsipmh@cid.aes.doe.CA (Patrick Hertel) writes: > >I would appreciate any information anyone can give me regarding a good place > >to get a microscope and a decent price. This would be just for home use by an > >amateur biologist, so it doesn't have to be some $5,000 lab instrument, but > >then it can't be a $10 toy 'scope from K-Mart, either. Can someone direct me > >to a mail order firm, or perhaps a magazine or journal with advertisements > >for this kind of merchandise? I haven't the slightest idea where to look. > > DITTO. Accept read "dissecting microscope". First of all, in another article to which I did not reply, someone suggested Edmund Scientific. While I have never ordered from them, I have seen their products and feel that they are high priced and of questionable quality. An alterntive distributor to consider is Cole-Parmer of Chicago, IL. They have various imported microscopes that are of much better quality than those of Edmund. I would suggest that you try to locate a used microscope, perhaps one that was used for a demonstrator. Many of the major distributors of scientific apparatus, such as Fisher, Thomas, VWR, etc. have a small amount of used apparatus available, and circulate a used apparatus list to customers upon request. You may also wish to contact dealers handling microscopes other than AO and B&L. Try Unitron, as an example. Unitron is probably #4 or #5 in microscope sales in the U.S. If you contact Unitron in Plainview, NY, they should be able to give you names of their dealers, and may even be willing to sell direct. Don't even *think* about calling Zeiss for a used microscope; that would be like looking for a used Rolls-Royce. :-) There are also dealers who handle used laboratory apparatus. You might wish to try Phoenix Equipment in Rochester, NY. Personally, if I were looking for a decent microscope on a limited budget, I would rather buy something used of decent quality, than to spend the same money on only what one can afford new. A microscope that is well maintained can last for many years. Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 {utzoo, uunet}!/ \aerion!larry
rpeter@nmsu.edu (Peter Herman x5495) (08/18/90)
Another suggestion about looking for a used microscope, esp. since you are in an academic town, is the local medical school. It used to be that med students bought scopes for studying during their 4 years and re-sold them at graduation. I don't know if this is still true, it has been a long time since my post doc days at a med school. rpeter@nmsu.edu In Real Life: Peter Herman Biology - 3AF New Mexico State Univ Las Cruces, NM 88003
talent@spanky.sps.mot.com (Steve Talent) (08/19/90)
In article <RPETER.90Aug18054506@jornada.nmsu.edu> rpeter@nmsu.edu (Peter Herman x5495) writes: >Another suggestion about looking for a used microscope, esp. since you >are in an academic town, is the local medical school. It used to be >that med students bought scopes for studying during their 4 years and >re-sold them at graduation. I don't know if this is still true, it >... I have been to several public auctions where Motorola sells surplus and salvage equipment. It's common to see several scopes sell at these auctions. Generally high quality but often with parts missing (Nikon, B&L, Wild, Zeiss, and others makes). I've never seen one sell for over $200. Surplus/salvage dealers often buy stuff like this so you might want to check the phone book for your area. There are several in the Phoenix area. Steve Talent, Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector CAD Tempe, AZ 602-897-5440, talent@dover.sps.mot.com
JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET (08/20/90)
I am reminded to post a quick recommendation for a brand-name for those interested in dissecting scopes: Wild (rhymes with "billed"). I, ahem, obtained one from a lab that was being cleaned out and junked at my last school and it is a marvelous little scope; very simple, easy to maintain, and superb optics. I understand that they are not terribly expensive, certainly not in the Zeiss range. Josh Hayes, Zoology Department, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 voice: 513-529-1679 fax: 513-529-6900 jahayes@miamiu.bitnet, or jahayes@miamiu.acs.muohio.edu If you push something hard enough, it will fall over. [Fudd's first law of opposition]
jm67@prism.gatech.EDU (MURRAY,JEFFREY P) (08/20/90)
I would suggest trying the Edmund Scientific catalog nearest you. I believe that, at latest count, their microscopes ran from about $300 to $5000, with the majority in the $500-$1000 range. I believe they are locatied in the Boston area, and I do not have an address for them just his moment...anyone out there have a current address/phone number for them? I know they have two different catalogs. One is primarily for amateur scientists, and the other is geared toward professionals. Both, however, contain high quality equipment (note that I'm not affiliated with them, just a very satisfied customer...I've purchased tools and equipment from them since I was a kid). -- MURRAY,JEFFREY P Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 uucp: ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!jm67 Internet: jm67@prism.gatech.edu
rrahn@emdeng.Dayton.NCR.COM (Russel.H.Rahn) (08/20/90)
There is an add in the July issue of Shutterbug Magazine offering microscopes. I believe that this dealer handles both new and used microscopes. I have never done business with this dealer, but you might want to check them out. Herman A. Miller 2740 Cropsey Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11214 (718) 372-8253 Evenings Please! Hope this helps! Russel.Rahn@emdeng.dayton.NCR.COM
paleo@uncecs.edu (Constantine A. LaPasha) (08/23/90)
If you do decide to go for a new scope - check out those by Olympus - they make some nice microscopes that are not too expensive. (If you want real nice optics, they have a model [BHT-..] that works very well even as a primary research grade scope for about $3200 - this is much less than comparable scopes from Nikon, Zeiss, Leitz... -- BTW, this is not their bottom of the line in either optics or scope base - but I'm not sure of prices for lower grade models -- the one above was a tri-ocular compound scope, built in halogen light source, centerable 'condenser (for Kohler illumination), Periplan Apochromats for the 4x, 10x, 20x, 45x (&100x??) objectives, and widefield oculars - you can look thru this guy all day if you need to :-) :: in no way connected with Olympus - just use their products and wish I could afford their stuff myself :: -- =============================================== Kostya LaPasha paleo@ecsvax.uncecs.edu ==== ... virtually, we can do anything ... ====