Vintage W. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Patna Monocular Microscope c1942, Cased

This listing is for a beautifully presented vintage original Patna model microscope in brass by W. Watson & Sons Limited of London. It dates from 1942 based on the sequential Watson production number of 74301, which is engraved onto the main lacquered brass tube. This Watson Patna model was one of the rarer models in Watson's microscope line-up in this period and the Patna does seem to be somewhat rarer to market than the Bactil for example and may therefore have been produced in far fewer numbers, making this an interesting find.

The name Patna is also of local interest in Scotland because there's a small village in Ayrshire called Patna, located not far from Robert Burns' birthplace in Alloway. There's also a city in India called Patna; so one wonders just exactly what inspired the Watson optical company to use this name for one of their instruments - maybe we'll never know. This example from the middle of WWII is in all-original condition and benefits from a good set of original period-correct lenses, an original brass full mechanical stage and period Watson storage case that's also in wonderful condition following a sympathetic refurbishment process.

It presents really well with some amazing patination especially to the gleaming brass-work. This example has got some brass details including its main tube and thumb-wheels which are showing signs of age-related tarnishing especially to the main tube, but this is very much in keeping with its period, adds to the instrument's character and gives us clues to its previous ownership history and usage.

The brass-work still catches the sun and glows with a warm golden colour. This example of the Patna model is. Actually quite a heavy-weight instrument and an excellent piece of British optical engineering. It's a prime example of the quality Watson brand with use of appropriate materials and fine workmanship including in this period hand-finishing to many of the components. This sturdy microscope is in original condition, fully working, with some age-related signs of wear and only a little chipping to the black painted surfaces. It's got a great look and exactly the right level of patina. For a pre-loved brass example from the 1940s. The technical details for the Patna include - coarse focus which is by thumb-wheel controlled rack and pinion, with reasonably smooth movement and in addition the fine focus mechanism also moves easily requiring only a light touch. There is very little evidence of wear to the focus movements. Turning to the optics, this Watson Patna is fitted with a period graduated chrome eyepiece draw-tube and some appropriate vintage eyepieces that with good illumination produce excellent images: - 5x magnification - Watson. 2 inches brass low-power objective by R & J Beck - 4x approx - 2/3rd inch - Watson Parachromatic -10x with period Watson canister - 1/6th inch. Watson Parachromatic - 40x with period Watson canister - 1/12th inch - Watson Versalic oil immersion - 100x (not shown in listing photos) with period Watson canister. Overall, the range of magnification provided by this Watson Patna therefore ranges from about 20x to a perfectly respectable 1,000x when using oil immersion techniques. The microscope's mechanical stage is an original Watson factory-fitted item in brass with two armatures one of which is sprung and these are supplemented by two small spring-steel clips. This system is excellent for retaining slides during inclined viewing, with x/y controls showing a little wear and slackness to their movements but still free-running and offering fine x/y control of specimen positioning. The mechanical stage is interesting in that it rotates, being held in position and centered via brass thumb-screws and a retaining spring. The mechanical top part of the stage can be removed quite easily by sliding it all the way forward until the dovetails separate. There's then an oversized brass plate with black-painted surface fitted with holes for stage clips (which are fitted) that just slides into the same dovetails, giving an alternative somewhat larger non-mechanical stage configuration - now also shown in the final two listing photos. Turning to the sub-stage, we have a Watson Abbe-style condenser on a height adjustable rack and pinion mount with slide in/out dovetail fitting for the condenser assembly.

This allows for easy changing of condenser type or maintenance and there's also a working iris to control lighting levels, with a swing-out holder allowing coloured, opaque or dark-field filters to be inserted. Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror which is in pretty good condition on its adjustable brass support arm and gimbal set-up, with reasonably good silvering to both sides. All controls operate reasonably smoothly including coarse focus, fine-focus, eyepiece draw-tube, condenser and plano-concave mirror. The instrument has been lubricated so all controls whilst exhibiting some age-related wear operate smoothly. This instrument is quite an imposing visual treat for the eyes and it's also somewhat rare being a wartime Patna model.

So, it's in highly original condition with a comprehensive specification, good optics and is therefore essentially in collectable condition, also displaying amazingly well. Here is also a larger-type Watson storage case with this example, which isn't the original case for this example and is in beautifully refurbished condition, with internal storage racks for the lenses and also a working lock with key. Owing to the weight of the microscope, it will be partially dismantled - the frame will be bolted to the case using a transit bolt. Ured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. Thanks for looking - please also check out my other listings if you get a chance. Watson & Sons Ltd Brass Patna Monocular Microscope c1942, Cased" is in sale since Thursday, November 12, 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, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Trinidad and tobago, Uruguay, Viet nam.

Period: 1901 to 1950
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Material: Brass
Type: Microscope
Antique: Yes
Sub-Type: Microscopes