Achromatic microscope, after Harmanus van Deijl (1766) — Teylers Museum

Achromatic microscope, after Harmanus van Deijl (1766)

In the seventeenth century, optical instruments in which lenses were used, encountered a large problem: chromatic dispersion. It caused a blurred image and a discolouration, particularly at the edges. Around 1757 the English instrument maker John Dollond found the solution to this problem. He made a lens which consisted of two kinds of glass: flint glass and crown glass. This so-called achromatic lens put an end to chromatic dispersion in lens systems. In 1766, Jan and Harmanus van Deijl were the first in the Netherlands to successfully copy Dollond's invention. Later on, Harmanus devised a microscope which contained the achromatic lens. In 1806 Van Deijl's achromatic microscope was put on the market for the first time. This specimen from 1808 is a compound microscope, which means that it consists of more than one lens. The achromatic lens is located at the base of the vertical microscope barrel.

Administration name

Fysisch Kabinet

Title

Achromatic microscope, after Harmanus van Deijl (1766)

Translated title

Achromatic microscope, after Harmanus van Deijl (1766)

Creator

[{'date_of_birth': u'', 'role': u'', 'qualifier': '', 'date_of_death': u'', 'creator': u''}]