Huygens' revolver microscope
Inv V26952

In 1677 Christiaan Huygens came into contact, via his father, with the celebrated microscopist Anthoni van Leeuwenhoek. He visited him and Van Leeuwenhoek demonstrated his very latest discovery to him: the spermatozoa. As a result of this visit Huygens was so impressed by the world of microscopic organisms that he wanted to start investigating it himself. But before he could begin he needed a good instrument. The microscopes on the market at that moment did not meet Huygens' high standards, so he set to work. In October 1678 his microscope, which he had designed himself, was ready. He incorporated two minor inventions of his own: a diaphragm revolver and a specimen revolver. The addition of a diaphragm to the microscope gives a much sharper image. The specimen revolver shows mainly the practical mind of Huygens. Thanks to this invention he could examine six different specimens in rapid succession!