Posted by Hans Jaegerstatter on January 15, 20010 at 09:03:31:
I just acquired an object on eBay that was described as a "VINTAGE BRASS DUAL CANDLE HOLDER & MAGNIFYING GLASS SET". I don't think the seller really knew what it was, for it was also described as "a desk accessory". My first thought on seeing it was that it was a microscope lamp. See attached URL for the auction page and photos. The all brass apparatus seemingly has two "candle holders" on it. Both have identical acorn drops on the bottom, but the candle "cups" are different. I believe that ONE of these really is for a candle. It slides up and down on a brass post and is adjustable. The second "candle holder" is fixed in place, with a smaller candle "socket". I believe that this fixed holder is NOT for a candle, but rather, that it held a glass ball filled with water, with the sealed neck of the ball going into the socket. Finally, there's a magnifying glass. Nearly all parts on this seem to be adjustable. Little knobs everywhere. So this thing seemingly has: an adjustabl If it IS a microscope lamp, the look is certainly 18th century or early 19th century, which makes me suspect that it's a copy. But who would replicate an antique microscope lamp (if that's what it is) and sell copies? No one that I know of makes copies of antique microscopes! Any ideas? Thanks! EBAY AUCTION PAGE WITH PHOTOS OF THIS POSSIBLE MICROSCOPE LAMP
e candle holder at a high height, a possible holder for a glass ball filled with water that magnifies the candle light at a medium height, and a magnifying glass at the lowest level to focus the magnified light onto a microscope. Sure seems like this is a microscope lamp. I can find nothing like it on the internet or in books.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320469727733&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT