eBay

SUPERB W WATSON & SONS ANTIQUE BRASS EDINBURGH H RESEARCH MICROSCOPE SN8910 1906

Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
Image Hosting by Vendio
Click to View Image Album

 
SUPERB W. WATSON & SONS ANTIQUE BRASS EDINBURGH “H” STUDENT’S RESEARCH MICROSCOPE WITH ORIGINAL DOVETAILED MAHOGANY CASE – SN-8910 - 1906

You are invited to purchase a superb antique brass Edinburgh Model “H” Student’s Research Microscope by William Watson & Sons of London, England. This microscope includes a very nice mechanical stage and a very elaborate mechanical substage assembly. It also comes in its original dovetailed Mahogany wood cabinet with working lock and key.

The manufacturer of this elegant instrument is engraved in bold block letters on the back of the tripod foot, “W. WATSON & SONS, 313 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON.” Also, of interest is the fact that this particular microscope was evidently manufactured at or distributed from the Birmingham Branch of the firm, as is indicated on a supplemental rectangular Japanned brass bar attached to the back of the tripod foot as follows, “BRANCH, 2 EASY ROW, BIRMINGHAM” (See composite image that shows these features).

Wm. Watson first introduced the Edinburgh Model “H” Student Microscope on the 29th of November 1887 (Stand No. 2018) and continued to produce this very exquisite and popular model on through several decades into the 20th Century. There is a serial number engraved at the base of the rear leg of the instrument, “8910” (see close-up image). This dates the instrument to the year 1906, just two years before the firm was incorporated under British law and the name of the firm was changed to W. Watson & Sons, Ltd.

Note: For more details on the history of the Watson firm, please see below.

Accompanying this description are several extracts from my personal library copy of the 28th Edition of the “Catalogue Of Microscopes And Accessories…Manufactured And Supplied By W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. Opticians” published in the year 1921 including a full-page image of the Model “H” or Stand “H.” Also included is an image of the mechanical stage and a close-up cut away diagram of the fine focus mechanism as found on this model microscope. This model microscope was designed especially for bacteriological research and general laboratory work and was especially targeted for use by medical students.

In addition, it is to be noted that this model Watson instrument is featured and illustrated on page 79 of Gerard L’E. Turner’s book entitled, “Collecting Microscopes.”

All of these extracts from the Watson Catalogue and the reference to Turner are included for comparison with the instrument featured here. This model is one of the premier microscopes from W. Watson & Sons and is overshadowed only by the Royal and the massive Van Heurck microscope models that were also produced by this firm. As such, it will be a most welcome addition to any serious antique microscope collection and is certain to become a centerpiece of that collection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

A heavy solid Japanned brass tripod base of monolithic construction rises to a trunnion joint that captures the limb and the rest of the instrument. The tripod foot spreads to a full 7 inches and so is very firm in any position. 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.

The instrument has a large fixed main stage with dovetail grooves on either side. Sliding over the dovetail rails is a mechanical stage assembly that features dual milled heads that control both the x and y motions of the stage from the right side of the instrument. The stage plates themselves are so arranged that the top of the substage condenser is never fouled by the stage at any point in its travel. NOTES: The mechanical stage on this instrument lacks the sliding slide bar and the scales and verniers under the stage plates, but is otherwise the same as that shown in the accompanying stage diagram from the Watson catalogue.

The limb of this instrument is of unitized construction and extends both above and below the trunnion joint. Below the joint and the fixed stage, the lower limb supports a substage assembly that has rackwork focusing and centering screws for the Abbe condenser. This assembly also includes an iris diaphragm that is operated with a lever that extends to the front of the unit. It also includes a swing-out filter holder. Also extending from the lower end of the limb is a cylindrical brass bar that can be moved to the right or left under the stage or even above the stage to provide incidental illumination (see image that shows this latter feature). This bar accommodates a 50mm diameter plano-concave mirror assembly on a sliding bar that provides illumination to the stage.

The upper portion of the limb of the instrument supports the body tube as well as the rackwork and the coarse and fine focus mechanisms. The brass body tube of this instrument is a “beefy” 1.5 inches in diameter and includes a brass drawtube, which is engraved with various tube settings from 150 to 250mm, along with a brass ocular holder at the top of the drawtube. A set of two (2) eyepieces accompany this instrument, a Busch 6x ocular and another ocular by Watson marked with the letter “A” and the number “4.” The lower end of the body tube is equipped with a triple position revolving objective nosepiece equipped with the following objectives: A Watson 2/3-Inch 0.28 N.A. low power objective, a Watson 1/6 Inch 0.74 N.A. medium power objective, and an E. Leitz Wetzlar 1/12-Inch Homogenous Oel (Oil) Immersion high power objective. Each of the objectives comes with a brass canister for storage of the objectives in a wood rack inside the wood case when not in use on the microscope. The eyepieces too are stored in a wood rack inside the Mahogany wood case that accompanies the instrument.

Coarse focus is by rack and pinion. Fine focus is by means of a through-the-limb lever type system that is illustrated in the accompanying cut-away diagram. 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 designed.

When the optical tube is racked all the way in and the microscope stands vertical with the drawtube fully nested within the body tube, the height of the microscope is about 12.5 inches from the base of the tripod foot to the top of the eyepiece. When the optical tube is racked all the way out and drawtube is fully extended all the way out, the microscope stands 17.5 inches tall making for a relatively tall microscope (see the attached image that compares the height of this microscope to a modern microscope – the Watson is most certainly an impressive and quite large instrument). The microscope weighs about 8 pounds.

Accompanying the microscope is a very nice dovetailed Mahogany wood cabinet with a wood and brass carrying handle and a working lock with key. Inside the case is a wood rack that holds the eyepieces and the objective lenses in their brass canisters. On the inside of the door of the case is a metal plaque that reads, “W. Watson & Glover, Opticians, 2, Easy Row, Birmingham” (see close-up image). The exterior dimensions of the wood case are 13.5 inches tall, 9 7/8 inches wide and 8.25 inches deep. The microscope in its wood case weighs about 13 pounds.

STATEMENT OF CONDITION:

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. 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 Watson microscope.

All in all this is a very well preserved example of a Watson Edinburgh Model “H” Student Microscope. But, there are a few relatively minor condition issues that are described below:

The brasswork on this instrument is in relatively good condition as is clearly evident from the accompanying images. I would estimate overall original lacquer retention in the range of 90 to 93 percent. There are a few minor pits and scratches in the brass along with a general haze of surficial tarnish and oxidation especially on the top of the stage and on the milled heads were rubbing from use occurs or where body oils tend to accumulate. All these minor condition issues are to be expected for a microscope of this vintage. The Japanned black metal portions of the microscope also have some minor scratches, chips and minor areas of tarnish consistent with the age of the instrument.

The only cosmetic treatment we have given this instrument was to clean it of dirt and grime with dilute Windex and then to give it a protective coating of Renaissance Wax from THE GEMMARY to preserve it.

NOTE: We do not deep clean and polish antique microscopes.

The optical elements that come with this microscope including the eyepieces, objective lenses and the Abbe condenser are all in excellent condition with no evidence of fogging, fungus, delamination or other defects. The plano-concave mirror is in relatively good condition, but with just a modicum of loss of silvering on both sides. Nevertheless, it provides excellent illumination to the stage.

Mechanically, both the coarse and fine focus mechanisms work smoothly. The stage operation is good, with both the x and y movements being smooth without any significant binding. In addition, the rack and pinion focus mechanism associated with the substage illumination assembly works smoothly. The iris diaphragm also works smoothly and there is no tarnish or rust on the iris blades. However, the stage clips are missing from the top of the stage.

The Mahogany wood case that houses this microscope is in very good serviceable condition and is structurally sound. It is the original Mahogany case for the microscope and even includes a working lock with key. Typical of virtually all antique wood microscope cases, this case has some surface scratches and dings both inside and outside from use over the years. There are also a couple of minor age cracks in the bottom of the case.

Despite some relatively minor cosmetic imperfections and the missing stage clips, this Edinburgh “H” Student Research Microscope with case will most certainly be a highly prized addition to any microscope collection. In fact, it still is fully functional and, if desired, can still be used to this day for serious microscopic investigations.

ABOUT W. WATSON & SONS:

The optical firm of William Watson was established in 1837, but the first Watson microscope was not made until the year 1876. Watson’s workshop was originally located at City Road, Clerkenwell, London from 1837 to 1862. The firm then moved to 313 High Holborn, London in 1862. After the death of the firm’s founder in 1881, the name of the firm was changed to W. Watson & Sons in 1882, but its business location remained at 313 High Holborn in London until the year 1957. The firm also established branch offices outside of London in Birmingham and in Edinburgh, Scotland. In the year 1908, the firm was incorporated under British law and the name of the firm was changed again to W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. 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.

So ended one of the best British microscope companies. They 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 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. In the year 1884, the Watson firm purchased the business of Edmund Wheeler, a well-known maker of prepared specimen slides. Wheeler’s slides became a large part of their sales over the years under the Watson label. The Watson prepared slides and their beautiful microscopes used to observe them continue to be in very high demand by astute collectors today.

PURCHASE:

THE MONTANA LOGGER is very pleased to offer this superb antique brass W. Watson & Sons Edinburgh “H” Student’s Research Microscope along with its original Mahogany wood case for a very reasonable “Buy-It-Now” cost.

NOTE: WE WARMLY WELCOME INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS/BUYERS. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE.

PAYMENT: Payment via PayPal is due within 3 days of purchase. Prompt payment is always very much appreciated. 


Payment Back to Top
     
I accept the following forms of payment:
  • PayPal



Shipping & Handling Back to Top

 
 US Shipping

$0.00 USPS Parcel Post®

 
 International Shipping

$97.87 USPS Priority Mail International (Worldwide)
$69.50 USPS Priority Mail International (Canada)



 
FREE scheduling, supersized images
and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager.
Make your listings stand out with
FREE Vendio custom templates!

Simply Powerful eCommerce
 
FREE scheduling, supersized images
and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager.


Over 100,000,000 served. Get FREE counters from Vendio today!



Click Here. Double your traffic. Get Vendio Gallery - Now FREE!