Description

Offered for sale is a very nicely presented example of Watson’s Edinburgh Student’s Stand-C model microscope in brass – it dates to around 1897 based on its serial number 4467.  It’s marked W. Watson & Sons with manufacture well before the firm’s move to limited company status which occurred in 1908.  This is a generally very good cosmetic example with few signs of wear and lacquered brass-work that’s retained most of its condition, which is remarkable considering the instrument’s age at 128 years and counting.  I hope that the listing photos do the instrument justice and showcase its excellent condition.

The Edinburgh pattern model of microscope 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 and over that long production cycle Watson regularly updated and improved the model.  What you see here is an example of the “C” with Continental foot and single pillar upright to the pivot point.  The upper limb is very similar to more common Edinburgh “H” models being a lister limb with vernier screw/long lever fine focus.  The Edinburgh design of 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 design and rather nice lacquered brass-work, this Edinburgh C is a fine example of British optical engineering with a design and style dating back to the Victorian era. 

Turning to the technical details, the coarse focus is via rack and pinion with good smooth action that holds in position on adjustment.  Fine focus is operated via a separate brass thumb-wheel located at the rear of the upper limb which operates an internal lever system acting 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.

With the optics, this Watson microscope comes fitted with a period graduated brass eyepiece draw-tube inside a lacquered brass main optical tube and there’s two vintage Watson eyepieces that with adequate illumination produce very good images:

– 6x magnification No. 2 with fixed collar
– 8x magnification No. 3

It’s set up for low, medium and higher power work with a good selection of period objectives with a Watson older-style double turret which rotates freely with a positive feel as the objectives align to the viewing position.  The objectives are as follows:

– 1 inch in brass – Watson – 6x magnification
– No. 3 in brass by Leitz – 10x magnification
– 1/6th inch in brass – Watson – 40x magnification
– 1/12th inch in brass – Leitz – 100x magnification – oil immersion required
(All objectives have brass canisters)

Overall therefore, the range of magnification available with this Watson ranges from about 36x with the lowest power lens combination, up to around 800x with the highest power combination, use of oil immersion and good lighting.

The plain stage is in solid brass fitted with brass specimen clips, which are fine for holding slides steady during inclined viewing. 

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a Watson Abbe-type condenser that friction-fits into a brass ring-carrier with centering controls comprising twin brass thumb-screws, which in turn sits in a height adjustable rack and pinion mount 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.  I’ve shown the swing-out feature in the listing photos.  The condenser assembly also has a working iris to control lighting levels and there’s a swing-out carrier fitted for adding coloured, opaque of dark-field filters.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror on a height and swing-adjustable brass support arm with slider and gimbal giving good adjustability, with period silvering that’s in good condition to both sides.

The instrument’s controls and friction surfaces have been very lightly lubricated and operate smoothly with a nice feel and there’s very little in the way of age-related signs of wear the moving parts and friction surfaces.  This instrument presents really well with lovely gleaming brass-work showing very few signs of tarnishing/spotting which is amazing given the instrument’s age.  This indicates to me that the instrument has obviously been very well looked after throughout its life and it’s in excellent shape for an antique microscope that’s nearly 130 years old. 

This Watson Edinburgh-C is essentially a collectible model in the right condition for a collector or connoisseur and it’ll make a great usable and display item and is offered at an attractive price point for an antique Watson of this age in this condition.  It also presents really well while being used as a desk-top instrument and will also display rather nicely in a library of home office setting.

There’s also an original storage case with this example, with replacement carry-handle, internal lens rack which looks to have been repaired in the past and a door with latches to help keep it closed in view of the missing lock and key.  Overall the case is in reasonable condition for its age with good exterior sheen.  The microscope is quite a tight fit as you’ll see in the listing photos.

Owing to the weight and delicacy of this antique Edinburgh-C microscope and its case, 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.

Thanks for looking.