Testa Model A

In 1966 I got my first microscope, a Tasco, that I used to try to look at the few mineral specimens I owned. It was a poor choice being a high powered biological. A few months later my class took a field trip to Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh, PA and I was allowed to hang out in the Mineral Hall all day. I was in heaven! A fellow came by and asked me what I liked and I said I like the copper minerals the most and I have some but the crystals are tiny. He invited me back into the lab area and pulled up a Testa Model A scope that the student visitors used. I had just received a copy of Speckels "Micromounts" book and recall admiring the same scope on page 24 (I still own the book). Just one look at some malachite at 10x and I was sold. I begged my folks for one but at the time $55 was a lot of money. Sadly I never did get one. I always thought they would be great field scopes. Well, recently I was alerted by a friend who is a microscope collector that there were some Testa Model A scopes for sale on eBay. $19.99 free shipping. I bit.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2012 08:25PM by Ron Layton.

I am eagerly awaiting a report on your receiving and using the Testa Model A! It is one I have not seen (But I do have intimate knowledge of a Ford Model A )