Description

For Sale –

This listing is for a nice antique example of Watson’s Jackson-pattern stand known as The Analyst’s microscope in anodised and lacquered brass – it dates to around 1888 based on its serial number 2038, so it’s quite an early Watson dating to around the time Watson introduced their Edinburgh series of instruments.  It’s marked Watson & Sons with their address at 313 High Holborn and so dates to a few years after the second Watson son joined the firm in 1882 and also significantly pre-dates the firm’s move to limited company status which occurred in 1908.  This being an early example of a Watson and over 130 years old, as you’d expect it’s got some signs of use/wear with lacquered brass-work that’s in quite remarkable condition showing very little age-related spotting/tarnishing and just a few lacquer losses here and there, giving the instrument a lovely patina and rather nice time-worn look.

Watson’s description of this model in their 1884 product catalogue reads as follows:

“The Analyst’s Microscope
Large and extremely solid monocular microscope with rack-work coarse focus adjustment giving sufficient range for 4 inch objective, fine adjustment, universal sliding stage, diaphragm fitting under stage with wheel-of-stops, double mirror, plane and concave, with B eyepiece, 1/5th inch and 1 inch objectives………………….all for £7 15 shillings.”
There were also additional cost options for Wenham binocular (like this example), mechanical stage and a high power 1/8th inch objective.  The instrument was recommended as being suitable for the brewing trade.  Watson also had available quite a long list of additional accessories all at extra cost.

In terms of construction, the instrument has a tripod foot in anodised brass with twin uprights supporting a pivot with tension adjustment via brass lever on the right-hand side.  There’s an elegant long lister-type upper limb also in anodised brass. 

Turning to the technical details, this is a binocular instrument with Wenham tubes and a small prism located just above the objective lens that splits the image.  The prism is reasonably clean, with a couple of tiny chips visible, but these don’t seem to disturb the binocular function.  The collimation isn’t bad for the Wenham system and careful adjustment of the prism and lighting usually produces a decent usable image.  Coarse focus is via rack and pinion with the newer style diagonal cut rack and helical cut pinion that are both in good condition with no damaged teeth and nice smooth operation, holding position on adjustment.  The coarse focus thumb-wheels are in brass and interestingly they’re asymmetric to accommodate the Wenham tubes.  Fine focus is of the older type single thumb-wheel located at the front of the instrument, which operates against sprung resistance acting on the nose-piece only and works quite well. 

With the optics, this Watson microscope comes fitted with non-graduated brass eyepiece draw-tubes operated by rack and pinion mechanism, with smooth action.  There’s a pair of Watson 6x magnification top-hat B eyepieces.  

There are three period objectives as follows:

– 2 inches – Watson – 3x magnification with brass canister
– 2/3rds inch in brass – by Andrew Ross – 10x magnification
– 1/8th inch in brass – no maker’s name – 50x magnification with later canister

Overall therefore, the range of magnification available with this Watson ranges from about 18x with the lowest power lens combination, up to around 300x with the highest power combination.

The specimen stage is all-brass with a patterned surface finish and is currently fitted with the Watson universal stage, which works well giving good range of x/y adjustment and it holds position as it should.  There’s just a single slide clip, but this fine for holding slides steady. 

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a brass friction-fit mount currently fitted with a wheel-of-stops with 4 positions and nice smooth rotation.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror (probably a later replacement) in a brass mount that’s on a height and swing-adjustable brass support arm with slider and gimbal, with period silvering that’s in decent condition to both sides.

Accessories:
– dark-ground plug-in condenser for dark-field illumination
– live box in brass

The instrument’s controls and friction surfaces have been very lightly lubricated and operate smoothly with a nice feel and surprisingly for an instrument of this age there’s only light age-related signs of wear to the various moving parts.  This instrument presents really well with brass-work that still catches the light beautifully.  This example is essentially a usable early antique Watson – it’ll make a stunning display item as well with its shiny Wenham tubes and is offered at an attractive price point for an antique Watson model of this type and age.  

There’s an original storage case with this example with internal racking for lenses and accessories, recessed brass carry-handle and a lock, but the key is missing, so in due course I will probably fit a cupboard latch to help keep the door shut.

Owing to the weight and delicacy of this antique Watson microscope, it will be partially dismantled, very well wrapped for shipping and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. 

Thanks for looking.