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Anyone have any interesting magnifying glasses?

HallcoHallco Posts: 3,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I inherited this one many years ago from a family member who passed away. Don't know much about it. I use it for smaller coins. It works pretty well. You can adjust it higher or lower as you can see in the pics,(sorry, they aren't very clear). Not sure of the magnification strength. Would love to see some others that you folks have that are not seen on a regular basis. :)



Comments

  • MikeInFLMikeInFL Posts: 10,188 ✭✭✭✭

    That is neat. I have nothing nearly as interesting, unless you count a plastic B&L loupe interesting. :) Thanks for sharing...Mike

    Collector of Large Cents, US Type, and modern pocket change.
  • habaracahabaraca Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Old Brass one I found 30 years ago or so....

    Loop.jpg 140.8K
  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice !!! :)

    Timbuk3
  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,929 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have one on my desk that is hand held, 1.5" across and came out of the back of a old projection TV. Big enough I don't have to search for it!! But, small enough it does not get in the way. Optics are super. Here's a pic of the three I use on a daily basis.
    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,034 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I still have my 2 17x SELSI DOUBLETS since the early 70's.

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • AzurescensAzurescens Posts: 2,783 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Tominon 135mm f4.5 Enlarger Lens from a camera on recommendation from @jtlee321 back in April.

    Some great recommendations and application advice.

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/997297/eyesight-loupes-getting-older

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I found this one at a yard sale... and I use it.. However, my main go to is a Sirchie fingerprint magnifier....Cheers, RickO

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,557 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 28, 2018 6:45AM

    I used to have a dual lens magnifier (eye glass loupe) that clipped onto the arm of my glasses when I needed a "hands free" device when I was working on mechanical pocket watch movements...I'll be darned if I knew where I put it in my many military moves.

    Similar to this one.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 10,565 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This one said it was antique and very old, but it looks brand new, was cheap and they have many more of the exact unit for varying prices from India, but that's ok, I didn't buy it for its antique value, it just interested me.
    The second one is a modern lighted unit with 2 magnifying glasses, 2 lites and a carrying case with a tool to remove the battery cover. Again, very cheap.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • derrybderryb Posts: 37,619 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left

  • MrHalfDimeMrHalfDime Posts: 3,440 ✭✭✭✭

    Certainly not me. I have the usual assortment of Zeiss and Eschenbach loupes, plus various B&L magnifiers, and a few Anco Triplet magnifiers at various powers. But the most 'interesting' magnifier I have seen was used routinely by numismatic author and mentor Russell J. Logan, who always carried a lens from a movie projector with him to study coins. Who could argue with success?

    They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,924 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have a common plastic loupe that
    I bought from the son of a San Francisco
    Mint employee.

    He typed a letter saying that his father
    'used it while he was employed by the
    U.S. Mint San Francisco from 1967-1999'
    when he retired after 32 years.

    The letter also says " He would inspect all the
    dies that were to be set up in the press for impression
    on various coins. He would use the magnifying glass to
    inspect the dies after a certain amount of impressions
    were attained....."

    and...."To date these magnifying glasses are used
    in the (SF) U.S. Mint" (Bausch & Lomb USA)

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • HallcoHallco Posts: 3,671 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interesting stuff everyone. I did think it was funny that I got a private message that said "I don't need a magnifying glass...that's what PCGS is for"! :tongue:

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,708 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My coin show loupe. 14kt. 10X. Engraved with my initials.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FredWeinberg said:
    I have a common plastic loupe that
    I bought from the son of a San Francisco
    Mint employee.

    He typed a letter saying that his father
    'used it while he was employed by the
    U.S. Mint San Francisco from 1967-1999'
    when he retired after 32 years.

    The letter also says " He would inspect all the
    dies that were to be set up in the press for impression
    on various coins. He would use the magnifying glass to
    inspect the dies after a certain amount of impressions
    were attained....."

    and...."To date these magnifying glasses are used
    in the (SF) U.S. Mint" (Bausch & Lomb USA)

    PICTURE?

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,924 ✭✭✭✭✭

    We tried long ago to post photos,
    and couldn't do it. Had to have
    someone else post a photo we
    emailed them - so I'll have my
    assistant try again, but it might
    not be for weeks.....

    It's just a simple, oval-shaped
    Bausch & Lomb plastic mag, glass......

    Sorry I can't post a photo of it now.

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 28, 2018 12:59PM

    I use the Plastic lens 3X-4X-7x B&L. They used them at the Mint Lab in DC.

    PS You can post an image of the Redhead instead. B)>:)

  • ParlousJoeParlousJoe Posts: 451 ✭✭✭

    I at times will use this one, it's pretty unique, I have yet to find another one. It is a 1707 FRIDD GREX BORUSS Figural German Coin Folding Pocket Magnifier Loupe.

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,674 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I believe the type of magnifying glass shown in the original post was intended for use in school science classes in the early part of the 20th century. I don't think they have been used for that purpose in many years.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • HallcoHallco Posts: 3,671 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @291fifth said:
    I believe the type of magnifying glass shown in the original post was intended for use in school science classes in the early part of the 20th century. I don't think they have been used for that purpose in many years.

    Cool! Thank you for the information! :)

  • thebeavthebeav Posts: 3,900 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I found this tiny 12x about 40 years ago. Sure is easy to carry.....

    Bought this recently for higher power stuff. Someone here posted an ebay link...

    Bought these goofy fold-up glasses in a junk shop up in the Thousand Islands maybe 35 years ago.
    Handy for sorting wheats and the like....

    I was always in the habit of engraving my name on my loupes. So many guys had the same ones and it would always settle an argument of ownership. A dealer walked out of my shop with my loupe years ago. Knowing this guy, it wasn't an accident. I saw him at a show about a year later. I sidled up next to him at some table. "Hey Len, can I borrow your loupe?", "Sure", he says and hands it to me. Yup, the one he walked with. "Thanks", I give him, and walk away......

    My Ebay Coin Store
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jesbroken...The first one in your post is exactly like mine... I have the original wooden box they came in... from a company in NYC.... Cheers, RickO

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

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    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

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