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From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.misc
Subject: Re: buying a microscope
Summary: Look for a used or demonstration model
Message-ID: <3956@kitty.UUCP>
Date: 17 Aug 90 16:52:34 GMT
References: <36242@ut-emx.UUCP> <1990Aug17.124338.20284@cid.aes.doe.CA>
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 42

In article <1990Aug17.124338.20284@cid.aes.doe.CA>, afsipmh@cid.aes.doe.CA (Patrick Hertel) writes:
> >I would appreciate any information anyone can give me regarding a good place
> >to get a microscope and a decent price. This would be just for home use by an
> >amateur biologist, so it doesn't have to be some $5,000 lab instrument, but
> >then it can't be a $10 toy 'scope from K-Mart, either. Can someone direct me
> >to a mail order firm, or perhaps a magazine or journal with advertisements
> >for this kind of merchandise? I haven't the slightest idea where to look.
> 
>  DITTO. Accept read "dissecting microscope".

	First of all, in another article to which I did not reply, someone
suggested Edmund Scientific.  While I have never ordered from them, I have
seen their products and feel that they are high priced and of questionable
quality.  An alterntive distributor to consider is Cole-Parmer of Chicago,
IL.  They have various imported microscopes that are of much better quality
than those of Edmund.

	I would suggest that you try to locate a used microscope, perhaps
one that was used for a demonstrator.  Many of the major distributors of
scientific apparatus, such as Fisher, Thomas, VWR, etc. have a small
amount of used apparatus available, and circulate a used apparatus list
to customers upon request.

	You may also wish to contact dealers handling microscopes other
than AO and B&L.  Try Unitron, as an example.  Unitron is probably
#4 or #5 in microscope sales in the U.S.  If you contact Unitron in
Plainview, NY, they should be able to give you names of their dealers,
and may even be willing to sell direct.  Don't even *think* about
calling Zeiss for a used microscope; that would be like looking for a
used Rolls-Royce. :-)

	There are also dealers who handle used laboratory apparatus.
You might wish to try Phoenix Equipment in Rochester, NY.

	Personally, if I were looking for a decent microscope on a
limited budget, I would rather buy something used of decent quality,
than to spend the same money on only what one can afford new.  A
microscope that is well maintained can last for many years.

Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp.  "Have you hugged your cat today?"
VOICE: 716/688-1231   {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry
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