Description

Offered for sale is a good example of an antique monocular brass microscope by Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar in Germany, bearing production reference number 103994, which according to my Leitz dating table means that this example was manufactured in 1907.  The condition is generally pretty good, with only a few age and use appropriate signs of wear to the finish on the instrument and just the right time worn look to its paint and brass-work.  This example has a nice set of eyepieces and objective lenses by Leitz may well therefore be quite a sought-after classic model in view of the quality manufacturer, good optics and completeness of the instrument.  Being a compact instrument it’s a good proposition for display, say on a desk-top when set up with a suitable antique slide – and it’s also perfectly usable producing some nice bright images.

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

1)  A monocular eyepiece unit with graduated chromed draw-tube, with three useful eyepieces all by Leitz giving a wide range of magnification as under:

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

2)  The instrument’s main focus is controlled via a pair of brass thumb-wheels located at the top of the limb which move the optical tube – travel and focus are both very good with the optical tube holding in position as it should.  Fine focus is via a second set of thumb-wheels on the upper limb that also have a smooth action.  The upper limb on this model of microscope is designed to tilt and holds in position on inclination. 

3)  There are three good quality objective lenses on the double turret, as follows:

– 10x – Leitz No. 3
– 45x  – Leitz No. 7
– 100x – 1/12th inch by Leitz – oil immersion required
(all objectives have their correct brass storage canisters)

The objective lenses and eyepieces supplied therefore provide an effective magnification range from around 50x up to a theoretical 1,000x magnification when using the highest power lens/eyepiece combination along with an immersion technique and very good lighting.

4)  The stage is of a square design in brass with an ebonite top layer.  It’s currently fitted with a pair of modern slide clips for holding slides steady which work well.

5)  Below stage there’s an Abbe-type condenser by Leitz in a friction-fit plug-in mount with smoothly operating iris and a standard 30mm swing-out filter carrier – two 30mm filters are also supplied – blue and opaque.

6)  Lighting is provided by plano-concave mirror on a gimbal mount with height and swing adjustment and near-perfect silvering to both sides.

7)  There is a matching numbers hardwood case with internal racking, sundries container, carry-handle along with working lock & key.  The case is in pretty good condition for its age, with some age-related loss of finish to the exterior surfaces.  On the inside it bears a plaque on the door for retailers Millikin & Lawley of the 165 The Strand, London.

8)  Accessories:
– two 30mm filters – blue for daylight correction and opaque
– fixed stop insert with three aperture sizes that can be used instead of the condenser.

In summary, this is a nice clean example of a vintage Edwardian era Leitz monocular microscope in very good condition for its age.  This example may therefore appeal to collectors as well as specialists seeking a quality brass instrument from well-known makers Leitz.

Despite its compact dimensions this is also quite a heavy microscope especially with 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. 

Please also study the photos as they form part of the description.