Optical Instrument
Optical Instrument
Previous
Next
- Description
- Laban Heath (1837-1894) was a New England engraver who was particularly interested in detecting counterfeit currency. This is the patent model for his convertible optical instrument that could be used as a microscope, a telescope, or a magnifying glass. The inscription reads "L. HEATH."
- Ref: Laban Heath, “Improvement in Optical Instruments,” U.S. Patent 54,542 (May 8, 1866).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Optical Instrument
- Object Type
- Patent Model
- maker
- Heath, Laban
- place made
- United States: Massachusetts, Boston
- Measurements
- overall: 3 3/8 in x 1 7/8 in; 8.5725 cm x 4.7625 cm
- ID Number
- PH.308997
- catalog number
- 308997
- accession number
- 89797
- patent number
- 54,542
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.
