Description

Offered for sale is a highly collectable example of Watson’s Royal model of brass microscope.  It’s quite an imposing instrument standing over 18 inches high when the draw-tubes and coarse focus are fully racked out and I hope that the listing photos do the instrument justice and showcase its excellent condition – you’ll see it set up next to another imposing antique instrument of similar scale towards the end of listing photos.  This example dates to around 1901 based on its serial number 5371 which is engraved on the tripod just above the rear foot.  It was also originally retailed by Watson’s Glasgow sales agents who at the time were W. W. Scott & Co Ltd, via their sales outlet at 180 Sauchiehall Street, Glagow and it would be nice if the instrument could stay in Scotland or go to a collector with a Scottish connection.

The Royal model was produced by W. Watson & Sons based on a design scheme originally proposed by famous Belgian microscopist Henri Van Heurck (1839 – 1909) and was intended to be a slightly smaller, more affordable and just as well equipped version of the top-of-the-range Watson instruments of the time, which were the Van Heurck models.  The instrument is marked W. Watson & Sons, 313 High Holborn, London and dating to 1901, significantly pre-dates Watson’s move to limited company status which occurred in 1908.

The Van Heurck, Royal and Edinburgh models of Watson microscope all bear the same signature shape and were essentially based upon Watson’s original Edinburgh microscope design, which they had been manufacturing in various guises since about 1887.  The signature form most commonly uses a tripod base and lister-type upper limb with vernier screw operating on an internal lever fine focus mechanism.  This particular Royal model is fitted with some options and is evidence of the fact that Watson offered customisation and quite a number of discerning customers at that time must have had their instruments built to their own individual specifications, this example being no exception to that general rule. 

This example #5371 dating to 1901 based on its size and key features therefore appears to be a custom Royal, with the older style of tripod with more slanted shape and it’s a rather special period find in this condition.  The Royal was designed to offer most of what the larger Van Heurck models could offer, but at a more affordable price.  I’m sure that the Watson cognoscenti will have their own views, but I believe that this example is a Royal fitted with sub-stage fine adjustment, with the adjustment thumb-wheel located below-stage.  Further evidence of this being a Royal model is the spread of the front tripod legs, which is just shade under 7 inches and the tripod feet are all anodised brass and shod in cork, which was a specific Royal feature and allows the instrument to be used on a polished surface if so desired.  Van Heurck models when fitted with a tripod were also shod with cork, but all had shiny lacquered brass feet; they would also have a spread greater than 7 inches.  There’s a page from Watson’s 1912 catalogue in the listing photos showing a slightly later style Royal model for comparison purposes.

Turning to the technical details of this instrument, the coarse focus is via rack and pinion, with the optical tube holding in position as it should on adjustment. It’s also interesting to note that there’s tension adjustment to the coarse focus mechanism, a feature not found on other Edinburgh models until much later.  Fine focus is operated via a separate brass thumb-wheel with graduation markings located at the rear of the upper limb which operates a vernier screw acting on an internal lever system and it too works nice and smoothly. 

With its optics, this Watson Royal microscope comes fitted with a period graduated brass eyepiece draw-tube inside another graduated draw-tube operated via a rack and pinion system all of which sits inside the main brass optical tube.  Extending the draw-tubes noticeably increases the available magnification.  There’s one top hat eyepiece supplied with the instrument marked B, which is 8x magnification and it produces some nice crisp images.

There’s a useful selection of objectives and a later Watson brass triple turret which rotates with good feel when the objectives align with the optical axis.  The objective selection is as below:

– 2 inches – unmarked objective – about 3x magnification
– 1/2 inch – unmarked objective – about 12x magnification
– 1/6th inch Parachromatic – Watson – 40x magnification
– 1/12th inch – Watson Utility- 100x magnification – requires oil immersion

Overall therefore, the range of magnification available with the draw-tubes set at standard length, ranges from about 24x with the lowest power lens combination, up to over 800x with highest power objective and with the benefit of very good illumination and of course oil immersion. Extending the draw-tubes noticeably increased the magnification – you also have to re-focus.

The mechanical stage is in brass with vernier scales for both axes and x/y adjustment thumb-wheels on the right-hand side, which move nice and smoothly with just the right resistance to motion.  The stage also has a sliding bar with slide clips for holding slides and a thumb-screw locking mechanism.  There’s also a useful slide ejection feature – by rotating the thumb-screw on the left of the sliding bar, the mechanism pops out the slide for easy removal – a nice Watson touch.  The stage top-plate also rotates to left and right, with just the right resistance to motion so that it holds in position on adjustment and will also complete a full 360 degree rotation if required.  The instrument also tilts for inclined viewing, holding in position as it should on inclination.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a top-mount Universal condenser in a brass ring-carrier with centering controls comprising brass thumb-screws, which sits in a height adjustable rack and pinion mount with additional vernier fine adjustment via a horizontally mounted thumb-wheel that’s located below-stage.  There’s also a single-sided brass thumb-wheel for coarse adjustment of the height.  The filter carrier fitted accepts 35mm filters, which are generally standard for Watson instruments of this era.  The condenser assembly also has a working iris to control lighting levels which has a smooth action – note adjustment lever has a slight upward bend.  Lighting is via an over-size plano-concave mirror in a brass carrier which sits on a height and swing adjustable brass support arm and gimbal, with silvering that’s just about perfect to both sides.

The instrument and its controls have been very gently dusted, with the friction surfaces and moving parts sparingly lubricated so that they operate smoothly with only very slight age-appropriate signs of wear.  This instrument presents extremely well with brass-work that catches the light beautifully, showing only moderate wear losses, tarnishing and spotting, which is what you’d hope for with an antique instrument of this age that’s been both used and cherished over the last 120 years.  Overall, it’s in fine shape and capable of producing some nice images.  This example is essentially a collectible Watson Royal with the right additional features for this model, in decent condition for its period and it’ll make a very nice usable instrument and also a stunning and imposing display piece.  It also presents rather well while being used as a desk-top instrument and will also look good in a library or home office setting.  Note – there’s currently no storage case with this instrument.

Owing to the weight and delicacy of this antique microscope, it will be partially dismantled, everything will be very well wrapped for shipping and the final package will be dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.  Yes, it’s expensive, but it will be quite difficult to find another example of an early Edwardian Watson Royal in this sort of condition and as such it’s probably one for the serious enthusiast and/or seasoned Watson collector.  So, if there’s a gap in your collection for a Watson Royal, or if the Royal is something of a grail piece, as it was with me for a long time, then maybe you’ve finally found one for serious consideration. 

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