Vintage Swift Monocular Polarising Microscope circa 1960s, Cased & Collectable

Here we have a very well-equipped example of a monocular polarising microscope by quality British optical manufacturers Swift & Co. This is a well-specified example packed with specialist polarising features, probably dating from around the early 1960s and bearing serial number 25104.

This example is in excellent condition and is from a private collection in Perthshire. It's is virtually unblemished and is a real credit to its former custodians. This model is essentially a specialist model of Swift microscope, with the addition of a range of features to allow use for polarised light microscopy, presenting with quite extensive adaptations to every part of the stand giving excellent transmitted light polarising functionality, as follows.

Sub-stage polarisiation filter for rotation - analyser in main tube - correction plate recesses in main tube - Bertrand lens - iris in main tube - objectives turret with centering. Turning to the main technical details of this quality vintage microscope, we have two special monocular Telaugic 10x magnification eyepiece units by Swift, one with an internal cross-hair graticule and the other with a linear scale, both being original to the instrument. The coarse focus and fine focus systems move the main microscope optical tube in a vertical plane, with its concentric controls at the top of the frame. There is a smooth action through the twin-sided thumb-wheels - travel and focus are both good. The upper frame also tilts for inclined viewing, holding in position as it should.

There are four quality objective lenses all by Swift, some of which are also marked Edinburgh University Geology Dept, with a usable selection of progressive magnification and a quadruple turret with centering systems for the objectives, which are as follows. 16mm 10x magnification - 6mm 30x magnification. The effective magnification range for this instrument is therefore 50x to 550x with out the need for oil immersion techniques. The stage is circular and rotatable with 360 degree markers and a locking mechanism.

It's fitted with slide clips for holding a specimen slide steady during use, with stage mechanisms that run nice and smoothly with a lovely solid feel. You'll see in the listing photos that there's an antique slide of bichromate potash on the stage, the polarisation functionality works perfectly achieving extinction with the analyser engaged upon rotation of the lower polariser, creating a rainbow effect visible through the eyepiece of the crystalline subject. Below-stage there is a Swift Abbe-type condenser with a working iris for controlling lighting levels, single swing-out filter carrier and a rotatable polarising filter which turns with just the right level of resistance to the touch.

Sample illumination is provided via a plano-concave mirror on an swiveling gimbal mount, with silvering that's in excellent condition to both sides. This example also has the benefit of an original case, which is in very good vintage condition and is fitted with an internal storage rack for lenses, nice leather carry-handle and working lock just missing its key, so the door is also fitted with a brass cupboard latch to keep it closed. The overall condition of this technically very interesting Swift polarising microscope is really exceptional, with hardly any signs of wear to the paint finish on the frame and stage in areas where one would expect to see some signs of use for a vintage piece of specialist technical equipment like this. In summary, this is a very well-equipped vintage technical polarising microscope from quality British optical firm Swift, together with a good set of original lenses with all its polarising hardware in good working order. It may therefore appeal to both collectors of technical equipment and of course those seeking a good quality Swift polarising model for its technical polarising capabilities and also its imposing retro look. It's actually quite a large heavy instrument with quite an imposing/quirky retro look, which also makes it an interesting technical display proposition. It's essentially usable out of the box with some time spent getting to know it and setting up its specialist features and controls for optimum viewing results. Thanks for looking - please check out my other listings if you get a chance. The item "Vintage Swift Monocular Polarising Microscope circa 1960s, Cased & Collectable" is in sale since Wednesday, August 18, 2021. This item is in the category "Antiques\Science/Medicine\Scientific Instruments".

The seller is "arcboutant" and is located in Glasgow. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Antigua and barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, United States, Bahrain, Canada, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Barbados, Brunei darussalam, Cayman islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Grenada, French guiana, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Macao, Monaco, Maldives, Montserrat, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Reunion, Turks and caicos islands, Aruba, Saudi arabia, South africa, United arab emirates, Ukraine, Chile, Bahamas, Colombia, Costa rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Trinidad and tobago, Uruguay, Viet nam.

Period: 1951 to Present
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Material: Brass
Type: Microscope
Antique: Yes
Sub-Type: Microscopes