Inleiding: Instrumentgerichte wetenschapsgeschiedenis in de praktijk. Een zonnemicroscoop van Kleman

Abstract

Instrument-oriented history of science in practice. A solar microscope by Kleman A solar microscope made by the Amsterdam instrumentmaker Jan Marten Kleman in 1796 is described. This particular instrument has several interesting features, such as the unusual construction of the opake projector and an additional microscope tube which was designed to be used with artificial light for either the examination or projection of opake objects. Comparison with another solar microscope by Kleman from the Wellcome Collection in the Science Museum (London) indicates that Kleman was partial to the production of versatile instruments. Thus the various pieces of his solar microscopes, supplemented with a few auxiliary parts, could also be assembled to serve as a microscope. This study of Kleman's solar microscopes serves as a steppingstone to a discussion of various aspects of instrument-oriented history of science. This particular approach to the history of science has focussed mainly on individual instruments, their makers, the trade in instruments, collectors and collections of scientific instruments and the evolution of specific kinds of instruments. A comprehensive analysis of the role of instruments in scientific enquiry, which would supplement current history of science, has yet to be undertaken.