Vintage Cooke Troughton & Simms M2000 Binocular Microscope c1950s, Cased

Here we have a very nice and almost pristine example of the M2000 binocular microscope by well-known British optical manufacturers Cooke Troughton & Simms (CTS) of York. This original condition example with serial number M201815, probably dates to around the early 1960s.

The M2000 model range was first introduced by CTS in 1948, with the final examples produced during the mid-1960s when the CTS brand name was dropped by owners Vickers Instruments. The condition is generally really good and the instrument carries an inscription for Leicester Botany Dept, so must have previously been owned by Leicester University. It has recently been cleaned, checked over and given a light lubrication, with everything working as it should. Turning to the main technical details of this quality vintage M2000 binocular microscope set-up, we have a binocular eyepiece unit that's adjustable for differential focus by gently twisting the right-hand eyepiece tube and eyepiece separation by gently pulling on the adjustment tabs.

These binocular units are fixed at +1.5x magnification and effectively provide a 50% magnification boost to the eyepieces. It's got a pair of period 8x magnification compensating CTS eyepieces, which therefore scale up to 12x magnification taking account of the increase afforded by the binocular unit. The coarse focus adjustment is by rack and pinion with a nice smooth action with the optical tube holding in position as it should. Fine focus control is also nice and smooth and on this model the fine focus mechanism does not carry the full weight of the binocular head and therefore moves with an almost friction-less feel. The instrument tilts for inclined viewing and can be tightened in position via a limb tension lever.

There are four objective lenses in total with a usable selection of progressive magnification and a rotating 4-way turret which clicks into place positively as each objective is rotated into its viewing position. The objective lenses are as follows. Cooke - 40x - some delamination Vickers - 45x - Fluorite oil immersion - some delamination. (The effective overall magnification therefore ranges from a usable 96x to 540x when using oil immersion with good illumination). The specimen stage is mechanical with twin thumb-wheel x-axis and y-axis controls located above-stage, plus there's a slide holder mechanism for holding samples in place during viewing sessions, which has a movable armature and is fine for holding slides steady during inclined viewing and when the axes are being moved around.

The stage mechanisms run nice and smoothly and there's only minor signs of wear to the stage surface. Below-stage there's a CTS condenser in a height adjustable dovetail-fit mount with centering and an iris for controlling light levels, plus there's a 32mm swing out filter carrier for adding coloured, opaque or dark-field filters.

Sample illumination is provided via a sub-stage mirror assembly with plano-concave mirror in a rotating gimbal mount that's got period silvering showing some foxing to the concave side. The overall condition of this technically capable M2000 microscope is very good with no maintenance issues and it only has very minor signs of wear to the paint finish on the frame - as such this is a good collectable example. There is also a substantial CTS hardwood storage case with this microscope with internal storage, carry-handle and working lock and key.

In summary, this is a well-equipped vintage technical binocular microscope from British optical firm CTS together with a substantial storage case, which makes a rather attractive microscopy set-up suitable for both those new to microscopy and also more advanced users. It may therefore appeal to both specialist collectors of technical equipment and of course those seeking a CTS M2000 model for its technical capabilities and imposing retro look, which could also make it a spectacular display piece. It's supplied with a good range of objective lenses and fitted with a mechanical stage which is a must for high-magnification use.

It's essentially usable out of the box with a bit of time spent getting to know it and setting up its features and controls for optimum viewing results depending on application. This microscope equipment will be partially dismantled and very well packaged for transport. It will be dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.

Thanks for looking - please check out my other listings if you get the chance. This item is in the category "Antiques\Science/Medicine\Scientific Instruments". The seller is "arcboutant" and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Republic of 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, Israel, 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-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Macau, Monaco, Maldives, Montserrat, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Reunion, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Bahamas, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam.

Brand: Cooke Troughton & Simms
Antique: Yes
Type: Microscope
Microscope Type: Compound Microscope
Period: 1951 to Present
Viewer: Binocular
Material: Steel