W. WATSON & SONS LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS EARLY ROYAL MICROSCOPE WithCASE SN3321, 1894

WATSON & SONS, LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS ENHANCED EDINBURGH "H" STUDENT STAND - AN EARLY PRECURSOR TO THE "ROYAL" MICROSCOPE WITH WOOD CASE S/N 3321, 1894. Note: This listing has been revised based on input from a fellow antique microscope collector. WATSON & SONS, LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS ENHANCED EDINBURGH H STUDENT STAND, EARLY PRECURSOR TO THE ROYAL MICROSCOPE WITH WOOD CASE S/N 3321, 1894. Watson & Sons of London antique brass Royal Microscope model. Offered here is an enhanced version of Watsons Edinburgh H stand that includes an add-on mechanical drawtube.

Also included with the microscope is its original Mahogany wood case. The Watson Edinburgh Student Stand, is a model apparently devised in 1887 with the advice of one Dr. Alexander Edington, a professor and lecturer on bacteriology at the University of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh microscopes, especially the Edinburgh H model, preceded the Watson Van Heurck and later the Royal models, but were evidently the inspiration for and the basic stand on which both of these later models were based.

Watson introduced the Royal microscope stand in the year 1900. The instrument featured in this listing is signed on the rear of the tripod foot, W. WATSON & SONS, 313 High Holborn, LONDON.

The instrument also bears a serial number, 3321, found on the bottom rear of the rear foot (See the accompanying composite image that shows these features). This serial number dates the instrument to the year 1894.

As such, it is a very early example of what would ultimately become the Royal model microscope. Accompanying this listing from my personal collection copy of the 1910/11 Watson Catalogue is an illustration showing the Royal model microscope. Clearly, the listed instrument appears to look like a Royal microscope, but it is not. The listed instrument has a single brass control knob for the mechanical draw tube.

The later Royal model has dual brass control knobs for its mechanical drawtube. Such appears to be the case with the instrument featured here. This outstanding Watson microscope will be a most welcome addition to any antique microscope collection. Not only is this microscope a beauty to behold, but it is also a fully functional instrument with superb optics and mechanics such that it still can be used for serious microscopic investigations or, if desired, just for pleasure viewing of prepared microscopic slides to this day.

Dont miss this rare opportunity to add this superbly crafted microscope to your antique microscope collection. A heavy solid Japanned brass tripod base of monolithic construction rises to a trunnion joint that captures the stage, limb, and substage assembly. The tripod feet spread to a full 6 ¾ inches (see image) and so this base is very firm in any position. The stage and the limb are firmly bolted together in the same manner as in the Van Heurck models. The limb continues below the stage and carries the substage apparatus.

The trunnion joint allows the instrument to be adjusted to any angle from the vertical to the horizontal for the comfortable viewing of specimen slides or to facilitate microphotography (see images). This instrument is equipped with a revolving rectangular top stage plate, which is an optional feature not found on either the standard "Edinburgh H" or the Royal, which, instead, are described in the Watson Catalogues as having a fixed stage. This stage plate can revolve a full 360 degrees (See the accompanying composite image that illustrates this feature). Mounted atop the revolving stage plate is both a rectangular glass stage plate along with a pair of slide clips. Under the top stage plate is a mechanical stage assembly.

Sliding over dovetail rails, this assembly features dual milled brass heads that control both the x and y motions of the mechanical stage from the right side of the instrument. The mechanical stage also features vernier scales on both axes.

The mechanical stage plates themselves are so arranged that the substage condenser is never fouled at any point in its travel a prime example of intelligent design. Rising from the trunnion joint is the limb of the instrument. The limb is of unitized construction and extends both above and below the trunnion joint. Below the joint and the stage, the lower limb supports a substage illumination assembly that has rackwork focusing along with a set of three (3) brass centering screws for the Abbe condenser. This instrument features a Watson Universal Condenser 4/10-inch 1.0 N.

A brass milled head found on the right side of the instrument is used to move the illumination apparatus with its condenser either closer to or away from the stage. The illumination system also includes an internal iris diaphragm that is located below the condenser. There is space for an optional swing out holder for darkfield and oblique illumination stops, but this feature is missing from this unit.

Extending from the lower end of the substage assembly is a large 50mm diameter plano-concave mirror assembly set in brass and mounted on an adjustable brass bar that provides either direct or oblique illumination to the stage. The upper portion of the limb of the instrument supports the body tube as well as the angled rackwork and the coarse and fine focus mechanisms. The body tube of this instrument is a beefy 1.5 inches in diameter and includes two (2) drawtubes a lower drawtube operated by rack and pinion and controlled by a single brass milled head found on the top front of the body tube and an upper manually operated drawtube. Both of these tubes are engraved with various tube settings in millimeters. Included with the microscope is a set of two Watson eyepieces: One identified with the number 2 and the other identified as a Holos x10.

The lower end of the body tube is equipped with a Watson triple position revolving objective nosepiece with the following objectives: A Watson Argus 1-inch low power objective also marked with the letter F, Watson 2/3-inch medium power objective, and a Bausch & Lomb 1.9mm oil immersion high power objective. The B&L objective also comes with a brass canister for storage in the wood case when not in use on the microscope. Coarse focus is by angled rack and pinion controlled by an oversized pair of brass milled heads.

Fine focus is by means of a through-the-limb lever type system that is illustrated in an accompanying cut-away diagram from the 1910/11 Watson Catalogue (see image). A finely milled screw actuated by a micrometer knob atop the limb acts on a dual spring loaded lever with the fulcrum of the lever very close to the body tube resulting in very slow motion communicated to the body tube.

The movement imparted by one complete turn of the milled head is only 1/300 of an inch, which is ideal for high-power work for which this instrument was especially suited. When the microscope stands vertical with the optical tube racked all the way down to its lowest level with the objectives removed and the drawtubes are fully nested within the body tube, the microscope stands about 11.5 inches from the base of the tripod foot to the top of the eyepiece holder. When the objectives are attached, the lowest rack position is about 13 inches.

When the optical tube is racked all the way out and the drawtubes are fully extended, the microscope stands about 20.5 inches tall making for a larger than normal antique microscope (Note: Please see the accompanying image that shows the height of the microscope compared to a standard bottle of wine). The microscope weighs about 9 pounds. Accompanying the microscope is a very nice Mahogany wood case with leather carrying handle. The case is equipped with a lock mechanism, but its key is missing. Inside the case is a fixed wood rack in the upper left hand corner that is used to hold the eyepieces and the B&L objective in its canister. The exterior dimensions of the wood case are 14 inches tall, 9.25 inches wide and 8 inches deep.

The microscope in the case + the included optical accessories weighs about 15 pounds. NOTE: The accompanying images are a part of this statement of condition. Please take the time to view all of the accompanying images. They are designed to show the instrument at various angles and in various positions. The instrument was photographed under natural light conditions.

The images illustrate some of the salient features as noted in this description and will give you a good idea of what you will be getting should you be the proud new owner of this superb late 19th Century brass microscope. All in all this is a very well preserved example of a W.

Watson & Sons enhanced Edinburgh "H" model Microscope. The brass is in superb almost original condition as is clearly evident from the accompanying images. The lacquer retention is as close as one can get to 100% for an antique microscope and, overall, the lacquered brass parts have a very nice rich honey-gold patina.

The lacquered brass on the control knobs and stage is virtually free of any tarnish. However, the drawtubes do show a bit of surficial tarnish as these components are generally unlacquered. The black lacquered brass portions of the microscope including the tripod base and limb are in excellent condition. The only treatment we have given this microscope is to clean it of dust with dilute Windex and then to give it a coat of Renaissance Wax in order to preserve its original lacquer finish. NOTE: WE MAKE IT A FIRM PRACTICE NOT TO DEEP CLEAN AND POLISH ANTIQUE BRASS MICROSCOPES.

Polishing removes the protective lacquer. Ultimately, polished instruments without their protective lacquer will tarnish in time. The optics in this microscope including the eyepieces, objective lenses and the Abbe condenser are excellent with no evidence of fogging, fungus, delamination or other defects. The plano-concave mirror is in excellent condition as well.

The mechanics are in excellent condition. The coarse and fine focus mechanisms work smoothly and precisely. The stage operation is smooth and responsive. The top stage plate moves freely in 360 degrees. The rack and pinion focus mechanism associated with the substage assembly works smoothly as does the system for the lower drawtube. The iris diaphragm in illumination apparatus has two (2) broken leaves and so does not open fully. However, it does contract to a smaller aperture when the lever is moved.

The wood case that accompanies the microscope is in very good serviceable condition overall. The leather handle is good condition. However, as noted above, the key to the lock mechanism is missing a common condition associated with antique microscope cases.

Given its near museum quality condition, this Royal Microscope will most certainly be a highly prized addition to any microscope collection. The optical firm of William Watson was established in 1837, but the first Watson microscope was not made until the year 1876. Watsons workshop was originally located at City Road, Clerkenwell, London from 1837 to 1862.

The firm moved to 313 High Holborn, London in 1862 to 1867. After the death of its founder in 1881, the name of the firm was changed to W.

Watson & Sons in 1882 and its location remained at 313 High Holborn in London until 1957. In the year 1908, the firm was incorporated under British law and the name of the firm was changed again to W. The firm moved out of London to 25 West End Lane, Barnet, Herts in 1957. After several changes in ownership, the company stopped producing microscopes in the year 1970 and so ended one of the best ever British microscope companies.

In addition to microscopes, the Watson firm also manufactured a wide range of photographic lenses and cameras, x-ray machines, motion picture cameras, electrical devices, and other scientific instruments. It is of interest that the very first photograph of Queen Victoria was made with a Watson film camera. Over the more than 130 years of its existence, this highly prestigious optical firm produced an excellent line of microscopes, some actually quite stunningly beautiful like the instrument featured here, as well as telescopes, binoculars and other optical instruments. Wheelers prepared slides became a large part of the companys retail sales over the years under the Watson label. The Watson prepared slides and their beautiful, well-engineered microscopes used to observe them continue to be in high demand by antique microscope collectors. We will also entertain reasonable offers for this superb instrument. FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Make your listings stand out with FREE Vendio custom templates! Over 100,000,000 served.

Get FREE counters from Vendio today! WATSON & SONS LONDON ANTIQUE BRASS EARLY ROYAL MICROSCOPE WithCASE SN3321, 1894" is in sale since Saturday, November 2, 2019. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Science & Medicine (1930-Now)\Scientific Instruments\Microscopes, Lab Equipment".

The seller is "mtloggera" and is located in Hamilton, Montana. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Modified Item: Yes
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Modification Description: This Edinburgh "H" is enhanced with a mechanical draw tube in addition to the conventional sliding draw tube.
As such, it a design precursor to the later Royal Microscope model.
Antique Brass Microscope: Edinburhg "H" Microscope, Enhanced model
Country of Manufacture: England
Manufacturer: W. Watson & Son, London
Product Type: Microscopes, Lab Equipment