Description

Offered for sale is a really nice example of an antique Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar, Germany monocular microscope standing on a horseshoe foot in black enamel and lacquered brass finish.  According to my Leitz instrument dating table, manufacture was in 1897 with the instrument carrying serial number 43790. 

The condition of this example is generally very good, with just the right age and use signs of wear to the paint finish and lacquer here and there where you’d expect and a look that belies its true age.  This example has also got a set of quality objective lenses and eyepieces by Leitz.  This example may well therefore be quite a sought-after classic model in view of the quality build, good manufacturer, optics and completeness of the package.

Turning to the principal technical details of this quality monocular microscope, we have the following:

1)  Construction is a solid brass horseshoe foot in black enamel finish with single upright to the main pivot with tension adjustment and continental upper limb also in brass with black lacquer finish.  There’s a monocular eyepiece unit with brass draw-tube that’s graduated for tube length, allowing it to be set quickly at the optimum 160, 170 etc  value depending on the optics being used.  There’s a very good comprehensive collection of eyepieces supplied as follows:

– No. 1 – 5x
– No. 3 – 8x
– No. 4 – 10x

2)  The instrument’s main focus is controlled via sets of thumb-wheels located at the top of the limb which move the main brass optical tube – travel and focus are both very good with the optical tube holding in position as it should.  Fine focus is the continental type atop the rear pillar, with a single graduated thumb-wheel which has been cleaned and lubricated, so now also works as it should.  The upper limb on this model of microscope is designed to tilt and there’s a mechanism for locking in position as required.  

3)  There’s a good selection of quality objective lenses on a triple turret, with objectives as follows:

10x – #3
45x – #6
100x – 1/12th inch – oil immersion
(the objectives all have correct brass canisters)

The objective lenses and eyepieces supplied therefore provide an effective magnification range from around 50x magnification right up to a 1,000x magnification when using the 100x objective with the highest power eyepiece along with an appropriate immersion technique and good illumination. 

4)  The stage is of a circular design with rotation and it has good level of resistance to motion so that it holds in position on adjustment and can be centered via thumb-screw adjusters.  The stage is fitted with a pair of slide clips for holding slides steady which work well.

5)  Below stage there’s a condenser arrangement by Leitz, with smoothly operating iris and swing-out feature shown in listing photos.  Below the condenser there’s centering via a horizontal rack & pinion mechanism.  There’s a further rack and pinion system to adjust the height with single-sided control. 

6)  Lighting is provided by a plano-concave mirror on a gimbal mount with good silvering to both sides.

7)  There’s the correct matching-numbers hardwood case with this example which is a quality well-made piece in its own right in very good condition.  It’s got internal racking for objectives/eyepieces and its lock and key are present and working which is always nice to have.  It’s also very interesting to note that the key is the original Leitz key from 1897.

In summary, this is a highly collectable example of a mid-sized antique Leitz microscope in very good condition and may therefore appeal to collectors as well as specialists seeking a really well made quality instrument with monocular set-up. 

This is also quite heavy microscope equipment especially with its sold brass construction and the wooden storage case, so owing to its weight it will be partially dismantled, very well packed and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. 

Thanks for looking – please check out my other listings if you get a chance.