This listing is for a collectable example of an antique monocular brass microscope by quality makers Moritz Pillischer Opticians of London.   The instrument is numbered 402, so is a fairly early example and will date to around sometime in the1860s.

Background to M Pillischer Opticians

Moritz Pillischer emigrated from Hungary to London in 1845, where he began producing microscopes and other scientific and mathematical instruments from about 1849 onwards.  Moritz’s nephew James moved to London around 1860 to work for his uncle and later became Moritz’s son-in-law, after marrying one of his daughters. Pillischer did not make his own lenses until 1854, initially providing French-made objectives with his instruments. There were a number of different models produced by Pillisher over the active period, including the following:

- The Lenticular microscope - an early c1850s portable instrument
- The Kosmos microscope - a well-specified Lister-limb model normally in monocular configuration
- The International microscope - a bar-limb design often supplied with attached bulls-eye condenser
- The Improved Medical microscope - this model
- The Student model - forerunner of the Improved Medical model

Moritz Pillischer was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society in 1855 and joined the Quekett Microscopical Club in 1869. By 1881, Moritz had moved to Hove, Sussex, although he retained ownership of the Pillischer optical business. He handed over ownership of the business to his son-in-law in 1887 and passed away at his Sussex home in 1893. James joined the Quekett Microscopical in 1895, and the Royal Microscopical Society in 1898. After James’ death in 1930, the company was inherited by his three children, Edward, Leopold, and Bertha and the business was eventually liquidated in 1947. 

This example of a Pillischer monocular instrument is known as the Improved Medical Microscope and will probably date to the early to mid 1860s - there's an extract from Antique Microscopes showing this model's 1873 catalogue entry in the listing photos.  In view of its design for the medical profession it may appeal to collectors of medical instruments or indeed those currently in or retired from medical and allied professions.  It's in original condition and presents really well with some gleaming brass-work details and lovely age-appropriate patination along with some evidence here and there of historic polishing by fastidious former custodians.  It's survived pretty well over the last 160 years or so and the brass-work still glints when its catches the light and I hope that the listing photos do the instrument justice.  

The instrument's look and feel is of a quality not found in modern microscopes in that's it's fashioned from solid brass, giving it a weighty feel and quite an imposing presence when extended for use with draw-tube and coarse focus racked out.

Technical details - the construction is a Y-shaped foot with twin uprights supporting a pivot and an elegant elongated Lister-type upper limb, the design of which is reminiscent of Watson's Jackson model microscope from the late Victorian era.  The coarse focus is by rack and pinion with the older-style horizontal cut, which has quite a smooth action and holds in position as it should through its working range.  Fine focus is achieved via a small brass thumb-wheel located on the front of the main tube, being a vernier screw acting against sprung resistance on the nose-piece only - it works but the mechanism is somewhat worn and the range of fine focus is quite small.  Note: a fitted objective lens may need to be rotated slightly to engage the fine focus mechanism.

In terms of its optics, this microscope has a graduated eyepiece draw-tube with smooth action that holds in position on adjustment and it's supplied with two eyepieces as follows:

- an original vintage approx 6x top-hat brass eyepiece which works well, although there's a chip to one of the internal lens elements which is visible at the edge of the field of view but doesn't detract too much
- another top-hat in brass which is about 10x magnification - it's slightly undersized but produces a decent image

It's currently got two Pillischer objective lenses which screw directly into the optical tube one by one and it's important to note that the instrument has RMS thread, so there's plenty of other objectives that will also fit this instrument.  The supplied objectives are as follows:

- 6x magnification - 1 inch brass objective by Pillischer with brass canister
- 25x approx magnification - 1/4 inch brass objective by Pillischer dated 1855 so a very early example of a Pillischer objective and also with correct brass canister

The magnification range currently available therefore is around 36x to 250x with the draw-tube set at standard length, plus this will increase as you extend the draw-tube length  - you also have to re-focus on your specimen.  I have tested the optics with some slides of diatom strews and the images are perfectly acceptable when using good illumination.

The instrument tilts for inclined viewing and holds in position through its working range as it should and it can be tightened as required.  The all-brass specimen stage is fully mechanical with concentric x/y axis controls, which are a little stiff in operation but still work as they should.  They are supplemented by a sliding top-plate with rest for holding slides and a slider mechanism to hold slides steady which works well.  The top plate also rotates through a full 360 degrees, which is a useful additional feature.  The top-plate can also slide off the dovetails completely for cleaning and I've tried to demonstrate its functionality in the listing particulars.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a 37mm diameter brass plug-in friction-fit mount on a dovetail slider that's also got centering via twin brass thumb-screws.  This is currently fitted with a brass wheel-of-stops with three aperture sizes available.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror in a brass gimbal mount with height and rotation adjustment, with period silvering showing some foxing to both sides, a bit of silvering loss and the concave side is cracked but the reflectivity is still perfectly adequate.  There's also a longitudinal hairline crack to the mirror support sleeve, which appears to be cosmetic only, but worth mentioning.

The instrument has been sensitively cleaned and also lightly lubricated with non-hardening grease, so that the controls operate smoothly.  This example displays really well having quite a presence, with some lovely brass-work which still catches the light.  The instrument is also endowed pretty well all over with age and use-related patination including evidence of historic polishing.  Overall, this example of a Pillischer Improved Medical Microscope  should make a great display piece, perhaps in a library or home office type of setting, especially when set up with an appropriate antique slide.  There's also a wooden base plate with three indentations to receive the Y-shaped foot, which gives the instrument additional stability when fitted and also allows use of the instrument on a polished surface, if so desired.

There is also an original hardwood storage case with this instrument, which is in good condition for its age with a missing lock & key, but overall still presenting quite well.  It's got a recessed brass carry-handle, internal storage drawer, racking and a cupboard latch to keep the door closed.

Owing to the weight and delicacy of this antique microscope, it will be partially dismantled, carefully 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 options and costs.

Thanks for looking - please also check out my other listings if you get the chance.