Photos from the WFIWC Archives:
Equipment and Methodology

Robert L. Furniss using a binocular microscope in March 1942 (age 34) at the Portland Forest Insect Lab, Division of Forest Insect Investigations (FII), USDA, Bureau of Entomology. This style of microscope was still in use when I (MMF) came on board in 1950. In 1953, the Bureau was disbanded and personnel of FII were transferred to the Forest Service. After a time, we went from straightening-out used nails to actually having first class equipment and vehicles. In 1950, on a downgrade into Nevada City in the Sierra foothills, the brakes in my old Bureau truck failed and I just managed to stop using the emergency brake and some body English. Anyway, to complete the story ... In 1955 I was with the Intermountain Station (INT) at Boise, still using the illustrated microscope. Division Chief, Don Parker, had just come to INT from Wash. DC. He came in while I was scrutinizing some bark beetles and was aghast. He immediately saw to it that I got a new American Optical scope! I have used this style of microscope (lower left photo) for 50 years, logging thousands of hours of discovery. Incidentally, I visited S.L. Wood, the World authority on Scolytidae taxonomy (he insists that they remain a family), and was impressed that he uses this exact model of microscope. Photo PS-575 WFIWC archives.

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