These days a microscopist can easily find a wealth of information about microscopes on the internet. The major microscope makers offer their own web-based information sites and there are several good ones noted below.

There are many areas of microscopy instruction that can only be acquired from direct experience with your own specimen using your own microscope, lighting or camera system. We can offer you the expertise and our own 50-year experience in microscopy to help you get started with your system. We fully realize that many microscopists will "inherit" older equipment or optical systems that have been modified, adapted or "hybridized" prior to their arrival in a lab. The Bunton archives may be helpful in your familiarization with such equipment.

Please drop us an e-mail if you have a microscope that is new or just new to you. Many times we can fill in the blanks that are not in the owner's manual. In some cases we can provide both background information as well as the manual itself. Microscopes older than five years should most likely be cleaned and lubricated by an expert mechanic ... read further on this matter. Send us a photo of your microscope and try to find the make and model ... if it is made by E. Leitz (Germany) or Wild (Switzerland) we can probably help with a manual. If you need support on how to connect a modern electronic camera, we can help with the camera couplers and explanations about field of view, resolution and PC connectivity.

Bunton is networked with many other US manufacturers, vendors and resellers. We can help you locate critical items, replacement bulbs and even special adapters to keep older microscopes functional and newer microscopes on the leading edge. We look forward to being of service!

• INSTRUCTION BOOKS ON LEITZ AND WILD MICROSCOPE PRODUCTS...

We have an extensive archive of owner manuals for Leitz microscopes made from post WWII. Ortholux, Dialux, Orthoplan etc. The fine Swiss-made microscope manuals from Wild Heerbrugg are also avail able from about 1960 to 1990...M5, M8, M420 etc. Photocopies of the manuals plus a selection of application literature is made available for a nominal cost of $50.00 per set. Minimum charge order is $100.00 and all prepaid orders under $100.00 should include $5.00 shipping charge for USA mailings.

FORMAL MICROSCOPY INSTRUCTION AND A FEW WORDS ON MICROSCOPE SERVICE AND REPAIR

The McCrone Research Institute provides specialized training for microscopists. Visit: www.mcri.org for their class schedules on particle analysis, polarized light microscopy, forensic microscopy, digital imaging and materials science microscopy.

Bunton Instrument is available for consulting services and on-site training in many areas of optical microscopy. Contact Jim Averill for fee schedule and instructional services here in the USA.

Several microscope makers and distributors offer training and technical lectures in many areas of optical microscopy. Contact your microscope supplier for local sources of instruction and tech support.

We get calls from individuals who want to be "instructed" on how to service microscopes. We are not aware of any formal microscopy service training centers other than OJT at various microscope factories or distributors with their own in-house service operations. Furthermore, there is no such item as a "microscope service manual" for distribution to those who think they can make repairs with some wordage and a few photos. Unfortunately there are very few qualified microscope repair people around the world and those who know the older instruments are now retired or deceased. It is very unfortunate that many fine optical microscopes end up being surplused or "disposed of" for lack of a properly installed part or some expert lube and fitting skills. Here again, contact your microscope dealer or check around your community for the name of the best qualified microscope mechanics. See the Bunton page Microscope Service and Repair for our mid-Atlantic best pick.

Great Web Sites:

www.micro.magnet.fsu.edu

www.microscopyu.com

www.sandgrains.com