My son is receiving my father's old (early 1970's) Nikon Ske phase
contrast microscope. I remember my father showing me slides he had
prepared using darkfield illumination, but how he did it I don't
remember. My son is currently 11 but is very advanced. His reading
comprehension is rated at 9th grade 6 months and has been reading on
average a book every two weeks in the area of life sciences. He wants
to try to clone a frog, but I told him his catholic school would not
look kindly on it and I don't think his microscope would be the right
type. Yes, I am one proud father.

Here is my problem. I don't know how to use this microscope. I have
searched on Amazon for a book that would be helpful but really haven't
found anything. I have visited Nikon's
http://www.microscopyu.com/index.html, which is quite helpful. Can
anyone recommend a book on using a more advance microscope and how to
prepare slides?

I am hoping the optics are still ok. The four objectives are all
Nikon: DLL10x, DLL 20x. DLL 40x and DLL 100x. If the objectives are
bad, what are my options and cost?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	5 Dec 2004 21:04:15 -0600

The best and most comprehensive information is on the web, free of
charge. These sites are sponsored by the major microscope makers.
One is the Molecular Expressions website at

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/index.html

and the other is run by Nikon. Here is the article on phase contrast.

http://www.microscopyu.com/articles/phasecontrast/phasehome.html

These sites cover from beginning basics to the most advance state of
the art techniques. If your son has access to the internet and can
read and learn on his own let him loose on these sites.

Here is a good starting point.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/anatomy/introduction.html

The public library has many books for youngsters.

Carolina Biological sells material for science education. They are a
source of prepared slides and school projects.
http://www.carolina.com/

Also look on eBay for "prepared slides"

Science Kit / Boreal is another source.
http://sciencekit.com

So is Ward's
http://wardsci.com/

Good Luck

Aaron

On 4 Dec 2004 19:47:19 -0800, wsamplesis@cox.net (Bill) wrote:

>My son is receiving my father's old (early 1970's) Nikon Ske phase
>contrast microscope. I remember my father showing me slides he had
>prepared using darkfield illumination, but how he did it I don't
>remember. My son is currently 11 but is very advanced. His reading
>comprehension is rated at 9th grade 6 months and has been reading on
>average a book every two weeks in the area of life sciences. He wants
>to try to clone a frog, but I told him his catholic school would not
>look kindly on it and I don't think his microscope would be the right
>type. Yes, I am one proud father.
>
>Here is my problem. I don't know how to use this microscope. I have
>searched on Amazon for a book that would be helpful but really haven't
>found anything. I have visited Nikon's
>http://www.microscopyu.com/index.html, which is quite helpful. Can
>anyone recommend a book on using a more advance microscope and how to
>prepare slides?
>
>I am hoping the optics are still ok. The four objectives are all
>Nikon: DLL10x, DLL 20x. DLL 40x and DLL 100x. If the objectives are
>bad, what are my options and cost?
>
>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

From:	Bill
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	6 Dec 2004 04:05:29 -0800

Arron, I am located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

From:	GTO
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	Tue, 07 Dec 2004 04:42:22 GMT

Aaron:

It's 1690 miles to my place. Your place is closer (just about 1300 miles).
;-)

Gregor

"Bill" wrote in message
news:1102334729.241577.98170@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Arron, I am located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
>

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	11 Dec 2004 14:59:05 -0600

Hi,

Sorry I am in New Jersey.

Aaron

On 6 Dec 2004 04:05:29 -0800, "Bill" wrote:

>Arron, I am located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

From:	Gordon Couger
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	Sat, 11 Dec 2004 01:45:20 -0600

Bill wrote:
> Arron, I am located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
>
Bill,

I am in Stillwater and make it to Tulsa every couple of months.
Unfortunately I think the next appointment I have in Tulsa is in
February.

I don't know much about Nikon s but I'll can check it out and
get you going it it is in reasonably good shape

We are not at the end of the earth as far a technical things go
but you can see it from here.

Gordon
Gordon Couger

I collect links on information related to light microscopes.
http://www.couger.com/microscope/links/gclinks.html
Please forward anything you think might be useful to others.
Microscope Documentation is at www.science-info.org

From:	Bill
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	6 Dec 2004 04:06:47 -0800

Aaron wrote:
> Unless the objectives have been mistreated they should be fine. There
> is a market for used Nikon microscopes and parts on eBay. Objectives
> can be purchased there.
>
> The scope you discribe is a quality instrument. You could contact a
> local microscope repair service to have things checked out. My
advice
> is to try and find another hobbyist enthusiast in your area to show
> you the basics.
>
> Where do you live?
>
> Aaron
>
>
> On 4 Dec 2004 19:47:19 -0800, wsamplesis@cox.net (Bill) wrote:
>
> >My son is receiving my father's old (early 1970's) Nikon Ske phase
> >contrast microscope. I remember my father showing me slides he had
> >prepared using darkfield illumination, but how he did it I don't
> >remember. My son is currently 11 but is very advanced. His reading
> >comprehension is rated at 9th grade 6 months and has been reading on
> >average a book every two weeks in the area of life sciences. He
wants
> >to try to clone a frog, but I told him his catholic school would not
> >look kindly on it and I don't think his microscope would be the
right
> >type. Yes, I am one proud father.
> >
> >Here is my problem. I don't know how to use this microscope. I have
> >searched on Amazon for a book that would be helpful but really
haven't
> >found anything. I have visited Nikon's
> >http://www.microscopyu.com/index.html, which is quite helpful. Can
> >anyone recommend a book on using a more advance microscope and how
to
> >prepare slides?
> >
> >I am hoping the optics are still ok. The four objectives are all
> >Nikon: DLL10x, DLL 20x. DLL 40x and DLL 100x. If the objectives are
> >bad, what are my options and cost?
> >
> >Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
I am located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	5 Dec 2004 21:20:20 -0600

Unless the objectives have been mistreated they should be fine. There
is a market for used Nikon microscopes and parts on eBay. Objectives
can be purchased there.

The scope you discribe is a quality instrument. You could contact a
local microscope repair service to have things checked out. My advice
is to try and find another hobbyist enthusiast in your area to show
you the basics.

Where do you live?

Aaron

On 4 Dec 2004 19:47:19 -0800, wsamplesis@cox.net (Bill) wrote:

>My son is receiving my father's old (early 1970's) Nikon Ske phase
>contrast microscope. I remember my father showing me slides he had
>prepared using darkfield illumination, but how he did it I don't
>remember. My son is currently 11 but is very advanced. His reading
>comprehension is rated at 9th grade 6 months and has been reading on
>average a book every two weeks in the area of life sciences. He wants
>to try to clone a frog, but I told him his catholic school would not
>look kindly on it and I don't think his microscope would be the right
>type. Yes, I am one proud father.
>
>Here is my problem. I don't know how to use this microscope. I have
>searched on Amazon for a book that would be helpful but really haven't
>found anything. I have visited Nikon's
>http://www.microscopyu.com/index.html, which is quite helpful. Can
>anyone recommend a book on using a more advance microscope and how to
>prepare slides?
>
>I am hoping the optics are still ok. The four objectives are all
>Nikon: DLL10x, DLL 20x. DLL 40x and DLL 100x. If the objectives are
>bad, what are my options and cost?
>
>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

From:	Kevin Cunningham
Subject:	Re: Need help leaning
Date:	Sun, 05 Dec 2004 15:16:22 GMT

"Bill" wrote in message
news:b13e8e57.0412041947.9513c6d@posting.google.com...
> My son is receiving my father's old (early 1970's) Nikon Ske phase
> contrast microscope. I remember my father showing me slides he had
> prepared using darkfield illumination, but how he did it I don't
> remember. My son is currently 11 but is very advanced. His reading
> comprehension is rated at 9th grade 6 months and has been reading on
> average a book every two weeks in the area of life sciences. He wants
> to try to clone a frog, but I told him his catholic school would not
> look kindly on it and I don't think his microscope would be the right
> type. Yes, I am one proud father.
>
> Here is my problem. I don't know how to use this microscope. I have
> searched on Amazon for a book that would be helpful but really haven't
> found anything. I have visited Nikon's
> http://www.microscopyu.com/index.html, which is quite helpful. Can
> anyone recommend a book on using a more advance microscope and how to
> prepare slides?
>
> I am hoping the optics are still ok. The four objectives are all
> Nikon: DLL10x, DLL 20x. DLL 40x and DLL 100x. If the objectives are
> bad, what are my options and cost?
>
> Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Well you have a few problems. There are no parts, there are no new
objectives. I would carefully clean the objectives with alchol and water
based cleaner. Use a Kim-wipe or Kleenex. If you need better ones you can
try E-Bay but be carefull. It would be great if you have a competent repair
person near you, the microscope needs help.

Try my web site for a book. I don't think my tome is exactly what you need
but it is free. smskjc.home.mindspring.com

Kevin Cunningham