Dr. Thomas Allen, a professor studying plant virus diseases in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, received a grant award which purchased the Philips EM 300, which besides supporting Dr. Allen’s research became the first transmission electron microscope heavily used in a fee-for-service capacity supporting a wide range of research at Oregon State University. The microscope was installed in 1966-67.
The microscope was heavily used for Dr. Allen’s plant virus disease diagnostics and research work, but the instrument’s improved design and superior reliability allowed for its use to be extended to other fields and to more research endeavors. Fail-safe design features allowed the microscope to be operation-ready 24/7, the vacuum system was controlled automatically, and the instrument’s electronics were engineered as compact, “solid state” transistor-based modules.
Capabilities of the Philips EM 300 included: port-injected specimen exchange that could be accomplished without breaking the column vacuum or turning off the electron beam, and a more automated camera that accepted fifteen 3 ¼” x 4” glass photographic plates or pieces of flat sheet film.
The Philips EM 300 was in service until 1989. It was moved to an asbestos hazard testing company in California.