Antique Hare Ophthalmoscope 1915 | Genothalmic

The Antique Hare Ophthalmoscope 1915 is a rare and well-made instrument. It dates to around 1915, one of the more advanced electric ophthalmoscopes of its time. Makers built the Hare ophthalmoscope in two versions. One used reflected light from a mirror. The other ran on battery power. This example is the battery-lit type, but with a key twist. It draws power through an external cord instead of an internal battery. That cord connected to a transformer. This places the piece at an interesting midpoint in the shift toward electric ophthalmic instruments.

An Advanced Lens System

The lens disc on this scope uses geared, overlapping dials. Together they give a continuous range of lens power. That range runs from -1 to -29 diopters and +1 to +20 diopters, in ten steps. This was a wide and finely graduated range for its era. A separate +20 diopter lens sits on the back of the instrument. A lever on either side of the column brings it into use. The mirror slides along the base to focus the illumination. A knurled ring on the column moves up and down too. This lets the examiner fine-tune both the quality and depth of the light beam.

Maker and Distribution

The back of the scope carries the logo of Genothalmic, made by General Optical Co. Inc. This American firm distributed the instrument during its production run. Their name appears on several related pieces in this collection, tying this Hare Ophthalmoscope to a broader family of early electric eye instruments.

A Well-Engineered Historical Piece

This instrument stands as a strong example of early electric ophthalmoscope design. Its lens system was notably advanced for the period. Collectors interested in the shift from mirror-based to electric diagnostic tools will find this piece especially compelling. It also pairs well with the Genothalmic transformer featured elsewhere in the collection, offering a fuller picture of how these systems worked together in practice.