Vintage Cooke Troughton & Simms M2000 Binocular Microscope with Phase Contrast

Here we have a really interesting and complete example of an M2000 binocular microscope by well-known British optical manufacturers Cooke Troughton & Simms (CTS) of York. This is a well-specified example, probably dating from around the early 1950s and bearing serial number M201665. This example is ex-NHS having been originally owned by Liverpool Royal University Hospital where it was used in the laboratory attached to the Obstetrics unit. I was informed that the lab technicians were allowed to keep some of the technical equipment when the old lab closed, hence this example was saved at that time by going into private ownership.

The M2000 model was first introduced by CTS in the late 1940s, with the final examples produced during the mid-1960s when the CTS brand name was dropped by owners Vickers Instruments. The condition is generally good for a working instrument, with a few minor and mainly cosmetic issues and it has recently been through a check-over and lubrication. Turning to the main technical details of this quality vintage binocular microscope set-up, we have a binocular eyepiece unit that's adjustable for both focus and eyepiece separation. These binocular units are fixed at +1.5x magnification therefore giving the twin CTS 10x magnification eyepieces a 50% magnification boost to 15x. The coarse focus system moves the main microscope optical tube in a vertical plane, with its controls at the top of the frame.

There is a reasonably smooth action through the twin-sided thumb-wheels - travel and focus are both good. Fine focus adjustment essentially works by moving the nose-piece only, therefore the fine focus mechanism doesn't carry the full weight of the main focus tube - a neat CTS patented design feature.

There are four quality original Cooke objective lenses with a usable selection of progressive magnification, a mix of standard, phase and oil immersion objectives on 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: 25mm - CTS - 5x. 16mm - CTS - 10x Phase Contrast. 3.75mm - CTS - 45x fluorite (oil immersion) - not tested with oil.

1.8mm - CTS - 95x Phase Contrast (oil immersion) - not tested with oil. (All objectives are supplied with storage canisters). (The effective overall magnification therefore ranges from 75x to a respectable 1,425x when using oil immersion techniques). The specimen stage is fully mechanical being a CTS design with twin thumb-wheel x-axis and y-axis controls, plus there's a two-part slide holder mechanism for holding samples in place during viewing sessions, which has a movable sprung armature. The stage mechanisms run nice and smoothly with a lovely solid feel. The y-axis also has a locking mechanism to prevent the stage from slipping when inclined, another rather clever CTS feature. Below-stage there's a nice Phase Contrast condenser by Lomo with rotating phase disc including four separate phase annular rings.

This condenser can be used for standard bright-field microscopy as well as Phase Contrast techniques because two of the objective lenses are specialist phase contrast lenses - the Cooke 10x and 95x. Phase Contrast microscopy techniques are specialist techniques often used to discern detail in otherwise transparent biological specimens. Sample illumination is provided via a standard CTS plano-concave mirror on an swiveling gimbal mount, with silvering that's still functional and is showing some foxing to both sides.

The overall condition of this technically very interesting M2000 microscope is pretty good with most maintenance issues addressed and it has minor signs of wear to the paint finish on the frame in areas where one would expect to see some signs of use for a vintage piece of technical laboratory equipment, these have in the main been touched up with black enamel paint and are therefore not particularly noticeable. It's also supplied with a nice fitted wooden case for the objectives and Phase Contrast condenser. In summary, this is a very well-equipped vintage technical binocular microscope from quality British optical firm CTS, together with a good set of lenses and an appropriate and very useful Phase Contrast condenser, thereby giving a range of usage options.

As such, it makes a rather nice microscopy set-up. It may therefore appeal to both specialist collectors of technical equipment and of course those seeking a good quality CTS M2000 model for its technical capabilities and imposing retro look, which also makes it a spectacular display piece. It's supplied with its original CTS objective lenses and is 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 various features and controls for optimum viewing results depending on chosen application. Thanks for looking - please check out my other listings if you get a chance.

The item "Vintage Cooke Troughton & Simms M2000 Binocular Microscope with Phase Contrast" is in sale since Monday, January 11, 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
Microscope Type: Compound Microscope
MPN: Does Not Apply
Viewer: Binocular
Material: Steel
Type: Microscope
Antique: Yes
Brand: Cooke Troughton & Simms