Offered is

Offered is an attractive microtome engraved on the base ‘No.400 Carl Zeiss Jenna’. The microtome has the serial number engraved on the top surface of the foot, stamped to the underside of the foot and impressed into the top edge of the door. The microtome is very heavy and solidly built standing on a solid cast brass base which has a most attractive oxidised finish. To each side of the microtome are two nickel plated brass columns which support the brass top which has a thick glass surface.  In the centre of the microtome is a large nickel plated knurled brass wheel with numbers 1-90 engraved around its edge. As the wheel is turned it lifts the specimen carrier above the glass surface allowing a knife to cut a fine slither to be mounted on a microscope slide.

The microtome is housed in its original French polished mahogany case with blued steel screws and nickel plated fittings. The microtome comes with 2 specimen carriers.

Offered is a rather unusual and possibly unique portable ‘ Royal’ microscope by Watson & Son London. The Royal model produced by Watson & Sons was essentially a compact version of the Van Heurk model. Its approximately the same size as the Edinburgh model but has a sub-stage fine focus and a body tube extension focus via rackwork.  It  was aimed at the professional market with watsons literature claiming ‘It will be found invaluable in the laboratory, for which its strong construction and excellent mechanical stage are especially advantageous’ . What makes this microscope so unusual is the aluminium foot which is removed for packing into the case. I have looked through various Watson catalogues of the period and not been able to find this configuration which makes me think it was a special commission. It’s also unusual to find an instrument with an old photograph which makes me wonder if this was send from Watsons to the person who commissioned it? On the reverse of the photo is written in pencil ‘Watson Royal’. The aluminium foot can be seen in the photo so its finish as you see it now is original. Aluminium was used in late Victorian microscope manufacture with companies such as Smith, Beck & Beck using aluminium for focussing wheels on some of their instruments, however it was still an experimental, and expensive material.

The microscope, when assembled, stands on its cast aluminium foot secured with a brass nut. The microscope is supported on a single brass column which terminates in a compass type joint at the back of the stage. At the front of the compass joint boss is the very long articulated arm that holds the mirror in a gimbal. The mirror has a white glass back and a plane mirrored front. The mirror arm has a locking nut that allows the arm to swing right out possibly to provide oblique lighting to the stage.  The sub-stage has focussing via rack work and fine focussing via screw and lever and X-Y adjustment via two screws.
The stage has X-Y movement via rackwork and screw and micrometer scales for both. The actual stage top can be rotated through 360 degrees and holds the brass lacquered slide clip. At the back of the stage is the main body of the microscope which incorporates the fine focus. At the top of the body are the large course focussing wheels. The body tube has a mechanically racked draw tube at the front.

The microscope comes with the following accessories;

A micrometer eyepiece (missing micrometer grating)
A x17 eyepiece.
A x 10 eyepiece.
A Watson 2in objective.
A Watson 1in objective.
A Watson Holos oil condenser.
A small live box.
A large live box.
A compass joint bar.
A large table bullseye.

All of this is contained wthin the original brass bound carrying case with brass clasps and key.

The microscope is in very good cosmetic condition retaining much of its original golden lacquer. Optically the microscope is very good with no delamination of any the lenses. Mechanically all works just as it should with no noticeable wear or slack.

A classical piece of British aviation history ..... the 02A Aircraft compass. This type of compass was used in the observer's position of an aircraft, featuring a complete azimuth ring, read from a prism mirror.  It was fitted to aircraft such as the Avro Anson, AAC Wirraway, Lockheed Hudson, and the Bristol Beaufighter.

The compass is complete, and marked "02A COMPASS" to the main body top, and stamped with a WD "Arrow" /8A 892 to it's side.   The azimuth circle is stamped "6A/890".   The balanced direction dial has an RAF winged "N" motif.

The original wooden case is complete, with the standard  inscriptions to the exterior, and instructions to the lid interior. It is stamped with an official RAF stamp, dated 1942, and another, 1946.   There is an original webbing carrying strap.   In o.a vg condition, with signs of wear, commensurate to age and use.

The case measures:   H   10-1/2" X D 9" X W 9"

This is a very fine, complete instrument, used for  measuring the area of irregular outlines ... eg maps.

Made in white metal, the main arm graduated both sides, complete with all required sharp points, and adjusters.  There is a graduated plastic guide fitted to the main mechanism.  There are protection covers to the top pointers, and an intact placement needle, fitted to the front cone. There is also the detachable weight fitting.

Contained in it's original, fitted case. the exterior finished in quality Morocco leather, the hinged lid retained, when closed, by a quality snap catch.   The interior is in black velvet.

One of the best, and most complete examples, that I have had.

Instrument measures :  9-3/4"

The case measures:    12-1/4" X 2-1/4" X 1-5/8"

A good 2-day marine chronometer by Victor Kullberg, housed in its original 3-tier mahogany box, and signed on the silvered 4-inch diameter dial Victor Kullberg, Maker to the Admiralty, the Indian and Italian Governments. 105 Liverpool R^d London N. 8205.  

Victor Kullberg, one of the Victorian periods most outstanding chronometer makers, worked in London from 1851 until he died in1890, the business was continued after his death by his nephew Peter John Winnerstrom.

Kullberg’s entered this chronometer in the 1912 Greenwich trials where it came 7^th and was purchased by the Admiralty on 1 April 1912 for £48.00. The chronometer remained in Government service until it was sold by the Ministry of Defence on 18 October 1983.

The chronometer was sent to the Hong Kong depot in June 1913 and returned to Greenwich in August 1917 from HMS Huntress. Huntress was the new name given to German merchant vessel captured in 1914 by HMS Swift. After cleaning and rating by Kullberg it was then issued to HMS Tuberose.

HMS Tuberose was built by Swan Hunter and commissioned on 10 December 1917. This chronometer was issued to the Tuberose on 31 December 1917. HMS Tuberose was an escort sloop disguised as a merchant vessel and accompanied convoys, acting as a submarine decoy vessel or ‘Q-Ship’ as they came to be known. The ship was equipped with guns and depth charge throwers. Tuberose was sold in January 1923 to the Unity Shipbreaking Company, based at Plymouth and broken up.

The chronometer's subsequent history was to be sent to several depots then finally in 1931 it was sent to the Royal Signal School, Portsmouth.

The chronometer has blued steel hour and minute hands and subsidiary dials for seconds and state of wind; the bezel, with silvered sight ring, has bevelled glass.  The chronometer movement has a reverse fusee, spring detent escapement and a Kullberg split rim compensation balance with a palladium (?) balance spring.  The back of the movement is expertly spotted and the movement plates are numbered 8205, the top plate is engraved with the broad arrow mark. The serial number 8205 is repeated on the inside of the bowl and on the original winding key.

The mahogany 3-tier box has a brass plaque to the lid and the middle tier has a (later) label engraved with the broad arrow mark and Victor Kullberg Two Days 8205.  The box measures 7¼ x 7¼ x 7½ inches high. 

Naturalist / Botanist miscroscope from the 19th century.
The microscope is well preserved, retains part of its original lacquer finish and is in working order.
The rack and pinion focus on the vertical pillar moves smoothly as the transverse movement of the lens holder. The 2 lenses (signed 2L. and 4) are clean and the mirror retains the original silver finish. The lot includes also 3 bone handled instruments for dissecting (1 blade and 2 iron tips - one repaired i believe).The instrument is tall 19cm circa (assembled on the case).

The microscope is stored inside a walnut case with a really good veneer on top. 2 brass catches to close the little drawer. Size 15,5cm X 11,5cm X 4,5cm circa.

Great overall conditions.

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RARE VICTORIAN PERIOD CASED SET OF AVERY APOTHECARY WEIGHTS

A nice complete cased set of Apothecary Weights by AVERY in their original fitted box with tweezers and a compartment with grain weights. All the weights are in good condition and are marked with the same verification marks, with the exception of the smallest. The marks are all the same, being a crown surmounted by VR then a number 6 (Birmingham). The small lidded compartment contains grain weights and comprise 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 grains - the 1 grain weight is missing. Of the sheet brass Grain Weights, 3 have verification marks and 2 are unmarked. The tweezers are brass and also in lovely condition. The box, measuring 11.5 x 6 x 2.25cm, has its clasp and hinge in good working condition and the wood is only lightly marked from use.

RARE GORGIAN CASED APOTHECARY SCALES (WITH SILVER PANS) AND WEIGHTS

A rare cased set of Apothecary Scales and weights dating to 1814 (George III). This set was is signed Young & Son, and inside the lid is a label showing the Scale-Makers name and address (No 5 Bear Street (Leicester Square) London). There is a full set of 8 Brass weights plus 5 ‘sheet’ weights.

1 Ounce, ½ Ounce, 2 Drams, 1 Dram, ½ Dram, 2 Scruples, 1 Scruple & ½ Scruple.

5 Sheet weights 6,5,4,3 &2 Grains (contained in small box with brass lid and inscribed with Maker’s name.

This set has hallmarked silver pans with London markings for year 1814 (the London Guild Mark sometimes omitted between 1790 and 1820 as on these pans).

Young & Son were one of the finest English Scale Makers who were active from 1811 until the 1820s.

The case  (20.5 x 10 x 3 cms)is in good condition with functional hooks and hinges.

A nice, rare and original set for the serious collector.

Here comes a Reflecting Prism which is an accessory to Plössl´s large microscope "No. 1", ca. 1840, length 12 cm. It is fully made of brass and original lacquered. This prism fits to the Plössl microscope with an extra body-tube for horizontal use. Function and condition are very good. - See for example: Moe, H. The Story of the Microscope, page 134.

This very attractive and ornate graphometer was made at the end of the 17^th century, or the beginning of the 18^th century by Jean-Baptiste–Nicolas Delure. A highly regarded instrument maker, he was a Master and Juror of the Corporation des Fondeurs and appointed Ingénieur du Roi to Louis XIV. He was also father-in law to Nicolas Bion.

The graphometer is a nice example of the early design, using transversals on the scale, rather than a vernier. The scale reads to 10 arc-minutes. The instrument is still in its original leather covered wooden case. The case is decorated with an embossed fleur-de-lis design. After 300 years, no trace of original colours remain on the leather.

Condition:  The instrument is in good condition, and the compass components appear original. The case has an old repair, and losses to the leather. The hooks and eyes to the case appear original. A rare survival.

Note: It is unusual to find two identical instruments this early, but there is another Delure graphometer, the same size and same design in the Smithsonian.

(Catalogue number: PH*219497). Ours is the better example, having the original compass needle, and retaining its case.

A good selection of Victorian microscope slides, multiple colourful paper ones, half a dozen top makers.

Subject matter varies from insect parts, botany, crystals, pollen and polycystina.

All in good cosmetic conditon. Painted pine case 210 x 110 x 50 mm. 36 slides in all.

Accepting personal cheques, drafts, bank transfers in all major currencies. NO PAYPAL PLEASE.

A collection of nine good to fine brass microscope objectives, some signed and a cross-section of English and European models. A James How 1/4 inch, covered/uncovered. A Swift 1/12 inch Oil Immersion in a W. Johnson & Son canister. A number 7 E. Leitz Wetzlar. An unsigned 1/2 inch. A very thin diameter (12mm.) 1/4 inch covered/uncovered with variable focus capability. A European #6 stacked objective. An unsigned European three lens stacking objective. An unsigned 1/4 inch objective and finally an unsigned 1/4 inch variable stacking model (English).  Two of the unsigned examples are in plastic canisters, the rest are in brass ones. The entire collection comes in a brass inlaid rosewood box with yellow card insert to fit 10 objectives/lenses. A great deal for a collector of diverse tastes. All optics are guaranteed clear and useable with noticeable defects.  

Cheques, bank transfers, drafts in EUROS, STERLING or USD welcome. NO PAYPAL.