Antique W. Watson & Sons Edinburgh Student's Stand-H Microscope, Cased, c1930

Here we have an antique microscope by the highly respected optical instrument makers W. Watson & Sons of 313 High Holborn, London. It's one of their best models, known as the "Edinburgh Student's Stand-H" microscope. The "Stand-H" reference relates to a cross-member at the rear of the upper stand which creates an H-shape - you can see this signature design for yourself in one of the photos in the listing. The Edinburgh "H" is one of the better models made by Watson during their active production period which ran from the late 1800s right through to the 1960s/1970s, with this specific model remaining in production from the 1890s to the 1930s.

This particular example probably dates from later production during the late 1920s or possibly even the early 1930s - this tentative date is based on the type of fittings used, which tended to change over time during the model's long production run. This example's serial number isn't legible, so the dating assumption is based on the type of brass fittings used and comparison with other Edinburgh H models of known age. There is a serial number on the underside of the mechanical stage which is noted as 11626 and it's believed that this serial number refers to the mechanical stage only rather than the entire microscope frame. Overall the "H" is not quite as elaborate as Watson's Royal and van Heurck models but also it's not that far off and therefore it's endowed with most of the same features and qualities as the top-tier van Heurcks.

It's essentially an astonishingly good and stylish piece of British Edwardian optical engineering that produces beautiful images and gives the viewer a fine degree of viewing control. The microscope's main focus is by rack & pinion system which moves freely and the brass eyepiece draw-tube is calibrated for easy setting of tube length. The fine focus mechanism works via a later-style brass micrometer thumb-wheel located at the rear of the upper stage which in turn moves an internal lever system and also operates reasonably smoothly. The microscope benefits from a fully mechanical specimen stage with thumb-wheel x-axis and y-axis controls and an upper stage with adjustable slide clips giving complete and fine control of the sample being viewed. The sub-stage has thumb-wheel controlled rack & pinion vertical adjustment for the condenser.

The sub-stage also comprises the Abbe-type condenser which is a later Watson version, with working iris to control lighting levels and swing-out filter holder for insertion of coloured or dark-field filters. The condenser itself is also adjustable for position and it swings out for easy maintenance or swapping for another type of condenser. The plano-concave mirror is on a separate adjustable limb together with its standard gimbal, with silvering that's in pretty good condition on both sides.

Turning to the optics, the microscope has a period Watson rotating triple turret in black finish and four quality objective lenses covering a range of magnifications as follows. E Leitz Wetzlar #1 - Watson 2/3rds parachromatic. The objectives lenses all have their brass or Bakelite/plastic canisters and there are also two period eyepieces - 6x magnification and 10x magnification. There is also a vintage Watson wooden storage case with a working lock and key and a removable rack for storing the lenses. This isn't the original case for this example but nevertheless it's a quality Watson wooden case dating from around the 1950s. This is a quality antique microscope in good condition, with a selection of lenses together with an appropriate wooden storage case - it's almost certainly and example that will appeal to an enthusiast or serious amateur. Thanks for looking - please also check out my other listings - mainly eclectic artworks and vintage optics, plus some other cool stuff.

Watson & Sons Edinburgh Student's Stand-H Microscope, Cased, c1930" is in sale since Thursday, January 9, 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, 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, Bermuda, Bolivia, Barbados, Brunei darussalam, Cayman islands, Ecuador, Egypt, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, French guiana, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Macao, Monaco, Maldives, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Reunion, Saudi arabia, South africa, United arab emirates, Ukraine, Chile, Bahamas, Colombia, Costa rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Qatar, Trinidad and tobago, Uruguay, Viet nam.

Period: 1901 to 1950
Material: Brass
Type: Microscope
Mechanical stage: X and Y-axis