AO (American Optical) Spencer
Microscope Manuals and Catalogs
Ok, what is going on here . . .?
I'm a microscope enthusiast and amateur microscopist, if you will, and the microscopes that I own (OK, that I could afford :-) although it would be hard to buy something really better -- they are excellent!) are AO (American Optical ) or AO Spencer microscopes. Because these instruments all date from the 1950's and 1960's or before, information on them is becoming harder and harder to find . . . so here you go!
| What Are You Looking for? | |
| AO/Spencer Microscope Manuals and Catalogs? | Below, on this page -- scroll down. |
| To Learn A Little AO Spencer History? (Including finding out the date of manufacture of your scope from the serial number) | Try Here. |
| A Reference of AO/Spencer Objectives? | Click Here. |
| A Reference of AO/Spencer Eyepieces? | See Here. |
| A Reference of AO/Spencer Bulbs for Your Scope? | Right Here. |
| Repair Tips for AO Microscopes? | Click Here. |
| Some 'Odd and Ends' Information on AO/Spencer Scopes? | Try Here. |
| Manuals and Catalogs of Other Manufacturers (Zeiss, Leitz, B&L, etc.)? | Check Gordon's site Here. If you happen to have a Zeiss-Jena Microscope then go here. Leitz Pol microscope info -- don't miss here. A new resource has appeared for Leitz owners! Don't miss here. Here is a resource for Olympus microscope owners. |
| Information on Polarizing, Petrographic, and Geological Microscopes of all brands | See Greg McHone's wonderful site here for manuals, catalogs, and guidance on many models and manufacturers. |
| Advice on Buying a Microscope? | Try Microbe Hunter Here. |
| Advice on Microscopy and Using Your Microscope? | |
| You should read Micscape every month for fascinating articles on the world of amateur microscopy. | The encyclopedia of all microscope knowledge on the web is Molecular Expressions -- spend some time there if you can. |
| Many knowledgeable microscope enthusiasts frequent Group.io's 'Microscope' forum. If you need to locate a manual for particular microscope, or just need help with pretty much any microscope related issue, join the forum (it's free!), leave a message, and they often can help or direct you to a source of help. | Also visit and query the Amateur Microscopy net which also is frequented by knowledgeable enthusiasts and, as a bonus, contains arguably the best photomicrography found anywhere in the world (professional or amateur!). |
| Robert Bagnell's 'Light Microscopy', a text for his Pathology 164 course at the UNC School of Medicine, is a very excellent, complete, on-line book on microscopy. | Zeiss's 'Microscopy from the very beginning' is another excellent introduction to modern microscopy (note: download the pdf brochure). |
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Looking
for advice on cleaning your microscope's optics?
First, see the excellent page here.
Remember though that the cement used in microscope optics changed greatly
over the years and you should definitely consult the manufacturer's
directions in the manual for your specific microscope. The Zeiss document, 'The Clean Microscope', can be found
here
(download the brochure)).
Again, though, for AO Microscopes, what cleaning agent to use shouldn't be a mystery because recommendations are given by AO in the manuals for your specific scope as found below. |
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| Viewing an excellent online video: Imaging the Hidden World: the Light Microscope (1984) by Bruce Russell will give you a good idea of what to expect from microscopy as a hobby. View it! You'll enjoy it I promise. | |
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"What about books?" someone might ask.
A. For microscopy as a hobby in general, you can't do much better than Werner Nachtigall's 'Exploring with the Microscope'. This book is out of print but there are almost always used, as new, copies for sale either on eBay or from bookfinder.com for less than $30. It really is a 'must have'. B. For learning about the microscope and how to use it, and what to buy, etc., in my opinion you can't do better than Dave Jackson's 'Better Microscopy -- Vols 1 & 2 Special Combined Edition' for $22 from lulu.com. Get it! No hobbyist (and maybe a professional or two too ;-) ) should be without this book . C. For the history of the microscope, and lots of insights into why things evolved as they have, Hartley's 'The Light Microscope: It's Use and Development' is the ultimate resource. Unfortunately, it is usually very expensive, but watch on bookfinder.com . . . sometimes you can find one for less than $50. D. Don't miss Robert Bagnells 'Light Microsopy' . . an online book that is very excellent and quite advanced. E. For a very detailed, and expert, look at instruments in use in the 1950s, and early '60s -- an era in which many hobbyists' scopes were manufactured -- George Needham's 'The Practical Use of the Microscope' reigns supreme. Look for it on bookfinder.com. Used copies can often be had for less than $50. |
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Note: Many of these files were furnished to me by Robert Tolley, after I had contributed a Darkfield manual and the newer Series 10 manual, who in-turn, received it from others, so I believe that many amateurs have probably contributed to this collection over the years. I have since tried to add to it as documents or scans have been kindly sent to me, or I have been able to bid on them on eBay.
I am searching for an AO Series 2 or Series 4 reference manual, if you have one, please contact me
1. The AO Series 10 Manual:
A. The 1965 version, in the form of a beautifully scanned pdf, has been kindly contributed by Tom Woods.
B. The 1967 version is available at Gordon's site in two parts: part a & part b. Also this pdf version contributed by Carl Hunsinger.
C. The 1969 version is available right here (2.98 MB). Also this pdf version contributed by Carl Hunsinger.
D. The 1974 version is also available right here (2.52 MB). Also this pdf version contributed by Carl Hunsinger.
Note: The Dual Viewing Adapter Manual is available here.
2. The AO Series 10 Catalog (3.65 MB). Also this pdf version of the 1974 catalog kindly contributed by Carl Hunsinger.
3 The AO Series 10 Darkfield Manual (0.65 MB). Also this pdf version kindly contributed by Carl Hunsinger. Mickey Makay contributed this earlier pdf version from the 'black scope' era of the 1940's. Tom Woods also contributed a guide to the condensers and funnel stops.
4. The AO Series 10 PhaseStar Manual (8.01 MB pdf from www.science-info.org/micro/docs/AO-Spenser/)
5. 1974- 1975 AO Series 10 PhaseStar Catalog (1.92 MB)
B. The 1966 PhaseStar Catalog and Price List (courtesy of Gary Bennett)
6. The AO Cycloptic Manuals:
A. 1962 Reference Manual (1.64 MB)
B. 1977 Reference Manual (13.96 MB pdf file, courtesy of Eldred Spell.)
C. Cycloptic Dual Viewing Addendum (0.2 MB)
Make sure you read R. Jordan Kreindler's Micscape article on the Cycloptic.
7. The AO Cycloptic Catalogs and Sales Brochures:
A. The 1956 Catalog, 1956 price list, and a warning letter (again, 1956) about unscrupulous repair services (all courtesy of Tom Woods). This was the initial launch of the Cycloptic Series.
B. The 1962 version (4.20 MB).
C. The 1975 version (3.15 MB).
D. The 1967 version in two parts: Pages 1 - 19 & Pages 20 - 36 (both kindly provided by Gary Bennett). Also this pdf version kindly contributed by Carl Hunsinger.
E. 1985 Sales Brochure (Reichert), 1985 price list (Reichert), and 1988 Sales Brochure (Reichert-Jung) (all courtesy of Tom Woods)
8. The AO Series 2 & 4 Catalog (4.64 MB).
9 The AO Series 2 & 4 PhaseStar Manual (1.45 MB)
10. The AO Series 2 & 4 PhaseStar Catalog (0.98 MB)
11. The Effective Use and Proper Care of the Microscope note: A must read!
This book was revised and republished over the years as AO Spencer's microscope line evolved. There are:
| The 1941 edition (7.44 MB) | Eldred Spell has kindly contributed this edition which features the earlier black scopes such as the Model 33. |
| The 1949 & 1954 edition (5.30 MB): | These editions are identical (i.e. the 1954 edition was simply re-published from the 1949 edition) and feature the newer black scopes such as the Series 35, Scholar's Microscope, etc. |
| The 1956 edition & 1958 edition (5.40 MB) | These editions are identical (thanks to Jason Raitano for sharing scans of his 1956 edition to compare with my 1958 example). Features the MicroStar Series 2 & 4 'gray' scopes and associated accessories and models. |
| The 1959 & 1960 editions | Rumored versions . . . I have not seen them to confirm. |
Why am I trying to get a copy of multiple versions? Unreasoned obsession? No . . . well maybe :-) . . . the reason one might want a specific year is that it contains instructions for a certain range of microscope models. I believe that during the years above, these are the only 'users manuals' AO Spencer provided for their microscopes.
12. The AO Series 15 & 35 Catalog (1.97 MB)
13. The AO Series 15 & 35 Phase Catalog (1.81 MB)
Also: Directions For Use of Spencer Phase Turret Condenser (For No. 8M Phase Microscope, and No. 15M or No. 35M Medical Microscopes).
14. Dealer's Catalogs:
14a. The AO Blue Book (25.2 MB). note: It's 208 pages!, but this is a famous publication you should see! (Note: Tom Woods contributed this ''errata' sheet from his personal copy of the 'Blue Book')
14b. Similar to the Blue Book, Humboldt State University offers a scan of the 'AO Scientific Instruments Catalog' (circa 1950). Note: This is an as yet incomplete, but slowly growing, earlier (ca 1950) version of The Red Book in 14c below.
14c. The AO Red Book -- 1955. Contributed by Dave Jackson. A famous successor to the Blue Book above in 14a.
14d. The microscope pages from the 1955 Macalaster Bicknell Company catalog -- a laboratory supply dealer.
14e. Wallace Kelley and Tom Woods shared this 1929 Bausch & Lomb catalog -- Microscopes and Other Scientific Instruments.
15. I Saw Them Making Microscopes (1.24 MB) note: This is a 20-page 'walk through' of the AO Spencer plant in 1937.
16. The Microscope - Construction, Use, and Care 1926 (6.25 MB) note: This scanned booklet courtesy of Eldred Spell. Also, Steven Melamut kindly scanned the copy that came with his Duke Medical School Spencer No. 44 scope. Pdf is here.
17. AO Series 40 Teaching Stereo Catalog (0.67 MB).
18. AO Series 40 Teaching Stereo Manual (1.63 MB).
18b. AO Series 40 Dealer Service Manual (6.2 MB)
19. Spencer Medical Microscopes:
A. 1935? (a guess) (0.89 MB) note: a sales brochure featuring brochure featuring models 13MH and 33MH scopes.
B. 1937 (2.1 MB) note: sales brochure, a few more bits of information added to the above, plus more pictures.
C. 1955 note: much newer version showcasing the model 15, etc. (this brochure courtesy of Dave Jackson)
20. Spencer Microscope Accessories (1.91 MB) note: 18 pages long; it seems to be a subset of the AO Blue Book (above).
21. Spencer Lamps (0.94 MB) note: 10 pages long; published Feb of 1935, and describes Spencer Microscope Lamp offerings.
22. Spencer 'How to Use and Care for the Microscope' (1.78 MB) -- 30 pages, most probably from 1910. Features the Series 45 and 20.
23. Spencer, The Evolution of the Microscope
A. 1938 (3.05 MB) note: This scanned booklet courtesy of Eldred Spell.
B. 1957 (5.30 MB) note: This scanned booklet courtesy of Matt Brin
24. Spencer 1943 'The Use of Polarizing Microscopes (3.52 MB)
25. Three American Microscope Builders, a publication of AO Spencer in 1943 (35MB pdf file), and about microscope builders Charles Spencer, Robert Tolles, and Herbert Spencer. (note: This document is housed on Eldred Spell's site).
26. Stereoscopic Microscope Reference Manual -- Series 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 28. A 1967 American Optical publication, written by Oscar W. Richards. note: This document courtesy of Matt Brin.
27.
Spencer Research
Microscopes, catalog M-66, dated May,1935 and
accompanying
price list.
note: These documents courtesy of
Tom Woods
 |
A very nice 'on-line' AO Series 20 Microscope Manual can be found here, and another one here in pdf format (6.8 MB -- includes the phase manual too). |
 |
Looking for AO Series 150 Microscope
documentation? See the manual
and the catalog
(dated 03/75) in pdf format.
I also have a newer, but much smaller, catalog produced under the AO/Reichert name (dated 05/85) that I can send you if you'd like. mtarnoff-at-gmail-dot-com kindly contributed more complete pdf manuals for both the AO version and the AO-Reichert version. Also, see Bill Resch's article on Micscape for an example of refurbing a 150. |
I also have scanned images of the following (listed in no particular order).
Note: for those files without live links, if you send me an email I will email them to you, or at least provide a link to them from this site from which you can download them -- no problem.
Looking for the Joseph Leidy
Microscopy portal? Click Here. 
| Steven Born notes that the 'Smithsonian Instruments for Science 1800-1914' collection has a couple of early AO Spencer related materials. |  |
| Central Scientific Company Catalog (1911) | Shows pricing and descriptions for Spencer models 36, 40, 66, 70, etc. and some accessories |
| Spencer Lens Company Catalog (1896) | Shows pricing and descriptions for Spencer models 1, 2, 3 -- you can't get much earlier than that! :-) |
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