This listing is for a really nice example of Watson's Edinburgh Student's Stand-D model microscope in brass - it dates to around 1894 based on its sequential Watson serial number 3419 and pre-dates Watson's move to limited company status which occurred in 1908.  This is all-brass instrument has the look and feel of an exhibition-grade instrument, with brass-work still in quite good condition for its age with hardly any spotting or tarnishing that I can find.  The D-model is distinguished by its continental-style horseshoe or tuning fork shaped foot, together with technical sub-stage and full mechanical stage.  There's some pages from the 1896 Watson catalogue in the listing photos showing the D-model for comparison purposes.  The D-model is essentially the same as an H, except the D has the continental style foot.

The Edinburgh model range was produced by Watson between 1887 and around 1945; its long production run giving us a firm clue regarding just how good this model of microscope was in its heyday.   The Edinburgh stand was originally developed by Watson in collaboration with a professor and lecturer in bacteriology at the University of Edinburgh, hence the Edinburgh designation. With its signature rear cross-member giving that classic "H" look, nice shiny brass-work, Watson's Edinburgh model is a fine example of British optical engineering with a design and style essentially dating back to the Victorian era. 

Turning to the technical details, the coarse focus is via rack and pinion with the main tube holding in position well.  For fine focus, this is achieved via a separate brass thumb-wheel located at the rear of the upper limb which operates an internal lever system against sprung resistance.  The focusing technique being to achieve near focus with the coarse thumb-wheels, then fine-tune with the single rear thumb-wheel, which only has a fairly small range of movement via its vernier screw mechanism.  The instrument tilts for inclined viewing and holds in position as it should on inclination. 

Overall therefore, the magnification available with this Watson is currently about 30x and with the instrument having RMS thread for the objectives, there's plenty of objectives by Watson and other makers that can be used with this instrument.

The fully mechanical stage is an original Watson item in brass with twin thumb-wheel adjusters on the right hand side of the stage, currently fitted with a pair of sprung specimen clips for holding slides steady during inclined viewing and when the axes are being moved around which work very well.  The freely running x/y controls also offering fine control of specimen positioning, which is a real advantage for higher magnification work.  The x-axis and y-axis thumb-wheel action feels about right to the touch.  It's interesting to note that the top-plate of the stage also rotates through a full 360 degrees with just the right resistance to motion so that it holds in position on adjustment.  There's also what looks like a bulls-eye condenser, but it's actually a magnifier that allows you to see a magnified image of the stage surface - to check the slide positioning etc... and as such is a quite novel and unusual accessory to have - it fits into the standard accessory socket on the upper limb. 

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a simple top-mount condensing lens with fixed stop in a brass tube.  The mount has centering controls comprising twin brass thumb-screws, which is height adjustable via rack and pinion system with single-sided brass thumb-wheel to adjust the height along with a swing-out feature allowing easy swapping or maintenance of the condenser hardware. Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror on a height and swing adjustable brass support arm and gimbal, with period silvering that's in fine condition to both sides.

The instrument's controls have been lightly lubricated and operate with age-appropriate signs of wear.  This instrument presents extremely well with brass-work that really catches the light giving a nice deep golden glow and I hope that the listing photos do it justice.  Overall, it's in decent shape for its age with just the right patina for an example from this period and being an example with the exhibition-style look about it, it's also quite a rare example of the model-D.  This instrument is essentially a collectible Watson Edinburgh Stand-D model and it'll make a rather nice use and display instrument.  It will display rather fittingly in a library or home office setting, especially when set up with an appropriate antique slide and you'll see in the listings that I set it up for the photo-shoot with an antique histology slide from my personal collection.

There's also a hardwood storage case with this example, which is in reasonably good condition for its age.  The case is in mahogany and although not an original Watson case it still fits the Edinburgh-D quite well, with lock/key missing so it's fitted with a cupboard latch to keep the door closed and there's a replacement carry-handle fitted. 

Owing to the weight and delicacy of this Edinburgh-D microscope, it will be partially dismantled, very well wrapped for shipping and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.  Overseas buyers please use the eBay Global Shipping option if available for your territory, or contact seller for alternative shipping options and costs.