Since last posting I have carried out more observations using the Apex Learner and appear to see clear magnification at at least 600 x - of a piece of bronze coloured wrapping paper that came with the lens.  However, this has made me wonder if the 'electron microscope' doesn't refer to remote, as in external, accessing of the light microscope, which is what the Apex Learner is.  I have been writing a detailed powerpoint - originally intended to simplify - and will post it tomorrow when I have converted it to a windows media file or whatever I need to do to post it here.  I think the earlier points about magnification - including that one is seeing a reflected image and that the limits with magnifying lenses are low - remain valid if I am correct about the electron microscope.  An electronic microscope might otherwise sound plausibly different from the old fashioned kind until you consider that they apparently rely on 'beams of electrons', 'electron dense stains' and magnet coils instead of light and lenses.