Vintage Watson Service Microscope Serial Number 84951 circa 1946

Here we have a nice vintage original Service model microscope by W. Watson & Sons Limited of London. This example dates to around 1946 based on the sequential Watson production number of 84951 which is engraved onto the main tube. This immediate post-war example from the mid-1940s is in all-original condition and has been well looked after by its former custodian, which was Birmingham University Medical School Pathology Laboratory. The Service model was essentially the mid-size model of Watson's range of microscope offerings and the back-bone of its microscope range, first appearing in the Watson catalogue around 1919 and remaining in production right up until the mid 1960s - first as the Service (this example), then Service II (more streamlined shape) and then the Watson Barnet Service. So, this model essentially had quite a long production run of nearly 50 years - initially in brass, then like this example from the late 1940s onwards in nickel/chrome finish. This long production run giving us a firm steer about how capable this model of microscope was in its heyday, so much so that this model often found its way into hospitals and educational establishment, this example being no exception to that general rule.

This example also benefits from a set of original period lenses and it's also got good chrome-plated details such as thumb-wheels which are showing relatively few signs of age-related tarnishing in keeping with its period and usage and in the main the instrument has polished up quite well. The Service is essentially an excellent piece of British quality optical engineering showing its quality in every component, based on the right materials, solid construction and great design. Feel the weight of it for one, despite being a mid-size vintage microscope it's still quite heavy with all that steel and brass. This is a sturdy good quality Service microscope in good original condition, fully working, with some signs of wear and hardly any corrosion or chipping to the painted surfaces.

It's got a great look and patina with just the right signs of age for a post-war ex-medical school example. Turning to the optics, this Watson Service microscope is fitted with a chrome eyepiece draw-tube with graduation markings. The main tube is brass with coarse focus via rack and pinion with a nice smooth action, with the main tube holding in position as it should. Fine focus is a vernier screw/cam arrangement and I've cleaned and lubricated this mechanism so that it now moves smoothly with the right level of resistance to the touch.

1/6th inch - Watson Parachromatic - 40x. (3rd position is currently covered with a blanking plug). Overall, the range of magnification provided by this Watson therefore runs from about 100x to 400x.

The instrument tilts for inclined viewing, holding in position as it should via a lever tightening mechanism. The stage is a standard Watson ebonite with metal core item for the Service model and has been fitted with a pair of original Watson stage clips (shown in a couple of up-dated listing photos) that are fine for holding a slide steady especially when using inclined viewing.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a Watson Abbe-style condenser on a height adjustable rack and pinion mount which also has a working iris to control lighting levels. There's also a 35mm swing-out holder allowing coloured, opaque or dark-field filters to be inserted. Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror on an adjustable brass support arm and gimbal with good functional silvering to both sides. This is a good visual and working example of Watson's classic Service model in highly original condition with nice period optics and it's essentially in collectable condition especially in view of the good cosmetics, nice retro look and its connection with Birmingham University Medical School - it's also offered at a sensible price point. Please note that there is no storage case with this example.

Thanks for looking - please also check out my other listings if you get a 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, Croatia, Republic of, 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, Korea, South, 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, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Vietnam.

Period: 1901 to 1950
Material: Brass
Type: Microscope
Antique: Yes