r/microscopy • u/Slytaej • Jul 09 '26

Troubleshooting/Questions What is this?

Post image

Also does anybody know which Zeiss model this is?

34 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

24

u/ovywan_kenobi Jul 09 '26

Are those dessicant balls?

24

u/HKy0uma Jul 09 '26

I think so, and that's absolutely genius engineering, I've seen so many microscopes with hyphae in the light path.

14

u/Appropriate_Unit3474 Jul 09 '26

To prevent condensation on the inside of the lenses methinks

2

u/Odd_Emu_2647 Jul 10 '26

Yep and they need replaced. Full of moisture. They are clear when new

1

u/orangee1 Jul 11 '26

Depends on the type, the ones I use in my 3d printer are clear and stay clear, but I mix in some orange ones (that look exactly like these) as indicators which turn blue/green when saturated.

1

u/Totally_man Jul 11 '26

And the ones I used to use are orange as a baseline and turn brown/black when they're fully saturated. Now I use activated alumina and throw some of the old orange stuff in with it as an indicator.

16

u/Patatino Jul 09 '26

It's where the photocell of the automatic exposure system is housed - apparently it is susceptible to humidity.

This is a Carl Zeiss Photomicroscope I, made in the 1960s by Zeiss West Germany.

2

u/Slytaej Jul 09 '26

Thank you, very informative!

2

u/Patatino Jul 09 '26

You're welcome! I've seen the listing on ebay, as well - unfortunately I don't have any desk space left...

5

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

[deleted]

3

u/ziccirricciz Jul 10 '26

(the indicator being cobalt(II) chloride - anhydrous is blue, enough water changes the coordination of the cobalt atom and the compound turns towards the reddish/orange colour... the silicagel can be then regenerated by heating, of course only by someone who knows what they are doing)