Electron microscope, type EM100, Philips, c. 1950
Inv. no. V05961

In 1891 the electric light-bulb factory "Philips & Co." was founded in Eindhoven. In the first years mainly electric light-bulbs were manufactured, later the production line was expanded to include x-ray tubes and various measuring instruments. From 1949 onwards, after the invention of the electron microscope, Philips mass-produced these too. With this 1950 model a screen is necessary to make the object visible to the naked eye. In addition it is striking that the electron microscope is considerably larger than its predecessor, the optical microscope. This extra space is necessary to house the vacuum pump and the cabling for the various parts.