Description

FINE RADIAL LIMB MICROSCOPE OUTFIT — THE “PARAGON” BY SWIFT, English, c. 1890, signed “J. Swift & Son, 81 Tottenham Court Rd., London.”  This most handsome sturdy research stand is made of brass in contrasting chemically darkened grey and clear lacquered finishes.  It measures 13-1/2” (34 cm) tall, extending to 20-1/2” (52 cm) by racked coarse focus and racked extension tube.  The “radial” limb has a semicircular groove giving smooth clampable motion from vertical to horizontal viewing.  The microscope has an abundance of controls and motions, including thumbscrew (x,y) motion to the specimen slide, thumbscrew (x,y) motion to the substage separable achromatic condenser with leaf diaphragm, racked condenser focus, patented sidebar fine focus to the main tube, and a large adjustable stop to the coarse focus (to prevent objective / specimen accidents).  Accessories include four oculars (three of them “Compens-Ocular”), two objectives (one with adjustable cover slip compensation), Nicol prism polarizer and analyzer (primarily for petrographic use), and two-objective turret.  Condition is excellent complete with the original fitted carrying case of mahogany.

Following the introduction of the smooth acting semi-circular limb by the American George Wale, in 1879, Ross developed their large Radial Microscope, and Swift produced the “Paragon.”

          A very fine example.        $3800.