Antique Scientific Instruments

Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941

Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941
Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941

Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941

Here we have a lovely vintage Service microscope by W Watson & Sons Limited of London. This example can be dated to around 1941 based on the sequential Watson production number of 72195. It's all-original with a couple of interesting exceptions (upgrades) as follows. A really useful Watson quadruple turret has been added to replace the original triple turret.

A set of three period Bausch & Lomb progressive objective lenses in brass have been swapped for the original Watson lenses. Finally, a new low-power objective has also been added. Apart from the above changes, this example seems to be highly original and really well looked after. The Service model was essentially the most popular benchmark model of Watson's range of microscope offerings first appearing in the Watson catalogue around 1919 just after the end of the Great War.

This particular example has got brass fittings with a painted brass main tube and upper stage. This example must be a late brass model because lacquered brass finishes were generally phased out by Watson during the 1940s in favour of nickel-plated finishes. The Service is an excellent piece of British quality optical engineering that just oozes that famous Watson brand from every component, based on quality materials, solid construction, great design and attention to detail. Feel the weight of it for one, it's really heavy with all that brass. This is a sturdy good quality technical microscope in fantastic original condition, fully working, with minimal signs of wear and virtually no tarnishing of the brass-work or chipping to the black painted surfaces. It's got a great look and patina with almost no signs of age - the brass-work virtually glowing with a warm golden hue. This Watson Service microscope comes with two eyepieces - 10x Watson No. 4 and a 5x Watson No.

2, plus four objectives on its upgraded quadruple turret. 16mm 10x - Bausch & Lomb. 4mm 40x - Bausch & Lomb. 1.9mm 100x - Bausch & Lomb. The Bausch & Lomb objective lenses all still have their period-correct brass canisters.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have an Abbe-style condenser on an adjustable rack and pinion mount in brass which has a working iris to control lighting levels. There's also a swing-out holder allowing coloured or dark-field filters to be inserted. The stage itself has its original clips present and the plano-concave mirror is in pretty good condition on its adjustable brass support arm and gimbal set-up.

All controls operate reasonably smoothly including focus, fine-focus, condenser, chromed eye-piece draw-tube and plano-convex mirror. This is a visually superb and great working example of Watson's Service model with the bonus of an upgraded turret and objectives, together with the benefit of an original period Watson wooden case for storage that's in good condition with its original lock and key. Owing to the weight of the microscope, it will be dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.

Thanks for looking - please also check out my other listings. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941" is in sale since Monday, February 3, 2020.

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, Dominican republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, El salvador, Trinidad and tobago, Uruguay, Viet nam.
  • Period: 1901 to 1950
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
  • Material: Brass
  • Type: Microscope
  • Sub-Type: Microscopes
  • Modified Item: No

Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Service Microscope, Cased circa 1941