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Workshop on slide making inspired by Robert Hooke

Saturday 9th November 2019

Chris Thomas started this workshop with an introduction to Robert Hooke, and then surprised us by telling us that we had to construct our own microscopes (with a 6-inch tube length and a movable stage for focusing) and illuminators (for reflected light), and then devise a way of measuring specimens, before moving on to examining some of the specimens that Hooke investigated. No instructions were provided, and marks would be given for each stage.

Chris Thomas introducing the workshop

The materials that Chris provided were eyepieces and objectives (from Barry Ellam’s bargain boxes at the East of England Meeting), some scored pieces of cardboard, sheets of white, black and decorative paper, rulers, specimen bottles with a hole in the top, clear sticky tape, Blu Tack and LED torches.

Materials for making microscopes

Chris brought enough parts for 6 microscopes, so we worked in pairs. Nigel Ashby agreed to be the judge and to mark the efforts of other members.

Jacky McPherson and Mark Shephard

John Tolliday and Joan Bingley

Pam Hamer and Danny Ferri

Paul Smith and Lisa Ashby

Tristram Martyn and Irma Irsara

Four cardboard microscopes

Cardboard microscope assembled by Chris Thomas

The way to make a movable stage for focusing was to space the ruler a little away from the stand (using blobs of Blu Tack, for example) and then wrap a strip of cardboard around the ruler, loose enough that it can be slid up and down but firmly enough that it does not slip. A roll of paper provided the body tube, with the black paper inside to reduce flare. The top of the specimen bottle provided a holder for the objective.

To show that their microscopes worked, some members held their their mobile phones just above the eyepieces to take photomicrographs.

Point of a pin [by Pam Hamer]

Blu Tack label [by Paul Smith]

Blu Tack label [by Lisa Ashby]

1p coin 1p coin [by Joan Bingley]

1p coin 1p coin [by John Tolliday]

The second stage was to devise a way to measure specimens using only the items on their tables. Some members devised their own systems of measurement, while others used screen dots and other parts of printed matter to measure in millimetres or micrometres.

The third stage was to examine and draw items similar to those that Robert Hooke observed, including cork, willow stems, charcoal, woven fabrics, razor blades, pins and cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis, obtained from a veterinary surgeon by Lisa and Nigel Ashby). Members could use either the microscopes they had constructed, or the conventional compound and stereomicroscopes provided. Extra points were awarded for comparisons.

Specimens to be examined