German, dated 1895, engraved to the body tube'', the microscope stands on a large brass 'Y' shaped foot finished in black lacquer work, the body is supported atop a squat pillar on trunnions, at the base is a plano-concave mirror below ABBE illuminating apparatus on adjustable rack and pinion with a internal aperture for the Nicol polariser, above is a rotating and permanently centered stage with divided circle at the edge with slide clips, course focus via the large wheels at the rear of the body tube, top drawer tube with mm scale with rack and pinion adjustment, Amici-Bertrand lens on dovetail inserted behind the opening at the front objective centering via screw, with tripple nosepiece engraved CARL ZEISS, i original mahogany case with 4 Zeiss objectives, eyepieces, selenite disks, case height

Footnote: in the 1898 Zeiss catalogue this was the most expensive microscope produced by the firm. The stand alone was 575 marks, by comparison, their cheapest microscope was 50 marks for the IX stand

Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell: The Victorian Ironmaster, a Pioneer in Metallurgy and Industrial Innovation.

Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell, 1st Baronet and LL.D., was an important player in the industrial landscape of 19th-century Britain. Born on February 15, 1816, in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Bell was the son of Thomas Bell, a partner in the firm of Messrs. Losh, Wilson, and Bell, and the grandson of Isaac Lowthian of Newbiggin, Cumberland. His remarkable journey in metallurgy and chemical engineering would shape the nation's industrial progress and scientific understanding.

Bell's entrepreneurial spirit led him to take charge of the Walker Ironworks following his father's passing in 1845. This laid the foundation of a multifaceted career that would span several pioneering endeavors.

In 1850, a significant breakthrough occurred when Bell, along with his brother-in-law Robert Benson Bowman and his father-in-law Hugh Lee Pattinson, established a chemical company in Washington, County Durham. Here, they developed a novel process for manufacturing lead oxychloride, a significant advancement for the chemical industry. This venture necessitated Bell's resignation from his position at Losh, Wilson, and Bell, showcasing the complexities of his multiple partnerships.

Bell's appetite for innovation extended to engineering and in 1850, he partnered with Robert Stirling Newall to establish the world's first factory capable of manufacturing steel rope and submarine cable, demonstrating his commitment to pushing the boundaries of industrial possibilities. Two years later, his brothers, Thomas Bell and John Bell, joined him to build a major ironworks at Port Clarence, Middlesbrough, equipped with colossal blast furnaces that were the largest in Britain at the time.

These blast furnaces produced iron for bridges and steel rails, contributing to the expansion of the British Empire's railways and industries. Bell's involvement extended to the North Eastern Railway Company, where he served as a director and later as deputy chairman.

Bell's commitment to innovation wasn't confined to the production of steel and iron and in 1859, he opened Britain's first factory for the manufacture of aluminium, a metal previously considered as precious as gold due to the challenges of its extraction. The plant, located in Washington, utilized the innovative Deville sodium process, making Bell a pioneer in the field. He emphasized the importance of producing pure aluminium, recognizing that even the slightest impurities could affect its properties.

Throughout his career, Bell continuously explored new processes and improvements, such as the recycling of heat from escaping flue gases. In 1863, he exhibited thallium, a recently discovered element, at the British Association meeting in Newcastle. This thallium was obtained from the flue deposits at Washington, emphasizing his engagement in scientific and industrial research.

One of Bell's notable achievements was overcoming the challenge of using the Cleveland ironstone for steelmaking, a task considered daunting due to the mineral’s high phosphorus content. Through large-scale experiments, he developed a basic steel process that yielded steel rails with minimal phosphorus content, further contributing to the development of the steel industry.

Bell also played a key role in comparing the state of iron manufacturing in Britain with foreign competitors, particularly in France, Belgium, and Germany, underlining the importance of Britain's vast coal reserves and the role of labour costs in the industry's success.

In 1882, Bell's exploration extended to drilling for salt at Port Clarence, a venture that led to the discovery of an exploitable salt bed. This salt resource would be significant for the production of soda.

Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell's contributions extended to various sectors, from metallurgy to chemicals, and his legacy is still apparent in the industrial landscape of Britain. His relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence left an indelible mark on the nation's industrial and scientific progress. For his many contributions, Bell received recognition and honors, including a baronetcy and the Legion of Honour in France.

Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell passed away on December 21, 1904, at the age of eighty-nine

Honors and Achievements

- Founder of the Iron and Steel Institute, serving as its President from 1873 to 1875.

- First recipient of the gold medal instituted by Sir Henry Bessemer in 1874.

- Became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1874 for his distinction in chemistry and metallurgy, especially of iron.

- Served as a juror at International Exhibitions in Philadelphia in 1876 and in Paris in 1878, earning honorary membership in the American Philosophical Institution and the Legion d'Honneur.

- Founded the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain in 1877 and was nominated a fellow of the Chemical Society of London.

- Served as President of the Society of Chemical Industry from 1889-90.

- Elected President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1884 and was made a baronet in 1885.

- Became the 10th President of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers in 1886.

- Awarded the George Stephenson Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1890, and the Telford Medal for papers he presented.

- Received the Albert Medal of the Royal Society of Arts in 1895 for his metallurgical research and contributions to the iron and steel industries.