Description

Offered for sale we have a vintage original Service model microscope by W. Watson & Sons Limited of London.  This example dates to 1931 based on the sequential Watson production number of 48470 which is engraved onto the main tube.  This inter-war example from the early 1930s is in all-original condition as far as I can tell, although some of the lenses will have been changed around over the years, which is what you’d expect for a working instrument in a university zoology lab.  In general it has been pretty well looked after by its former custodians, which is nice to see and in this condition it’s capable of giving many more years of service. 

The Service model was essentially the mid-size model of Watson’s range of microscope offerings and the back-bone of its microscope range, first appearing in the Watson catalogue around 1919 and remaining in production right up until the mid 1960s – first as the Service in brass (this example), then in the 1940s the Service in chrome finish.  From 1950 Watson brought in the Service I and II models (more streamlined shape) and then the Watson Barnet Service until the end of production.  So, this model essentially had quite a long production run of nearly 50 years, with this long production run giving us a firm clue about just how good and capable this model of microscope was, so much so that it often found its way into government and educational establishments – this example being no exception to that general rule. 

This instrument has got good lacquered brass details such as thumb-wheels which are showing some signs of age-related tarnishing/spotting as would be expected and is in keeping with its period and usage profile.  In the main, the instrument has polished up well and the brass-work catches the light quite nicely.  The Service is essentially an excellent piece of British optical engineering that oozes the famous Watson brand from its various components, based on quality materials, solid construction and great design.  Feel the weight of it for one, despite being a mid-size vintage microscope it’s still quite heavy with all that steel and brass.  This is a sturdy good quality brass Service microscope, working well, with few signs of wear.  It’s got a great look and patina with just the right signs of age for a brass inter-war ex university example.

The construction is a heavy iron foot with pivot supporting the Lister-type limb also in iron.  Coarse focus is rack and pinion with good smooth action and fine focus is a horizontal arrangement with vernier screw and lever/cam which also works well.  The stage and sub-stage accessories are all attached to the limb/limb tailpiece and overall this is a very stable well-engineered design.

Turning to the optics, this Watson Service microscope is fitted with a chromed eyepiece draw-tube with graduation markings inside the main optical tube which is in brass.  It is also supplied with appropriate quality vintage eyepieces that with good illumination produce excellent images:

– 6x magnification – Watson
– 10x magnification – Watson

It’s got three vintage objectives and a triple turret, which rotates freely with a positive feel when the objectives slot into position as follows:

– Carl Zeiss brass objective – 6x approx – with canister
– Carl Zeiss D* water immersion – approx 40x – with canister
– 1/12th inch – Leitz high-power oil immersion objective – 100x – with canister

Overall, the range of magnification provided by this Watson therefore runs from about 36x to a very respectable 1,000x when using oil immersion techniques with the Zeiss objective.

The microscope stage is a standard Watson ebonite with metal core item for the Service model and is fitted with a single brass stage clip which work well – I will endeavour to find another suitable clip and add to the listing when I can.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a Watson Abbe-style condenser that’s top-mounted to a friction-fit mount that’s height adjustable via a rack and pinion system and there’s also centering via twin brass thumb-screws.  The condenser also has a working iris to control lighting levels and there’s a swing-out feature as shown.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror on an adjustable brass support arm that slots into the underside of the tailpiece, with gimbal and period silvering showing some foxing to both sides, with reflectivity that’s fine.

This is a good visual and working example of Watson’s classic Service model in nice original condition with a decent set of optics and it’s essentially in collectable condition and offered at a sensible price point for an inter-war example.  Please note that there is also a later 1940s Watson storage case with this example, which is in reasonable condition for its age with internal storage rack for the lenses and even the original transit bolt and brass washer is present in the case.  It is also got its original lock but with key missing it’s been fitted with a latch to keep the door closed.

Owing to the weight of the microscope, it will be partially dismantled, fixed to its case with the transit bolt, well wrapped for shipping and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. 

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