Description

Offered for sale is an excellent example of an antique Carl Zeiss monocular stand 1B “Jug-handle” microscope standing on a continental horseshoe-type foot in black enamel with lacquered brass highlights.  According to my Zeiss instrument dating sources, manufacture was around 1918-20, so right at the end of WWI with the instrument carrying serial number 74401.  This example will also have an interesting provenance and back-story, because it carries markings for University College London Anatomy Department where it was inventory no. 51.  I’ve also added some images from the Zeiss 1913 catalogue showing this specific model, with the exact same quick-release objective system.

The condition of this example is generally very good, with just the right age and usage signs of wear to the paint finish and lacquer here and there, exactly what you’d expect for a high quality well-made piece of optical engineering that’s been used with care, kept in its case and also well looked after.  This example has also got a comprehensive set of good quality objective lenses and eyepieces mainly by Zeiss, which are described in detail later in the listing, along with a neat quick-release system for mounting the objectives.  This example may well therefore be quite a sought-after classic model in view of the very high build quality, good manufacturer, comprehensive optics and general condition and completeness of the package.

Turning to the principal technical details of this quality monocular microscope, we have the following:

1)  Construction is a solid brass horseshoe foot in black enamel finish with twin uprights to the main pivot with tension adjustment and upper limb with the jug-handle feature also in brass with black lacquer finish.  There’s a monocular eyepiece unit with brass draw-tube that’s graduated for tube length, allowing it to be set quickly at the optimum 160, 170 etc value depending on the optics being used.  There’s quality eyepieces supplied as follows:

– Leitz Periplan 8x
– Leitz Periplan 10x
– CTS Kellner 15x with focus tube and internal 0 to 10 vertical graticule

2)  The instrument’s coarse focus is controlled via a set of thumb-wheels located at the top of the limb which move the main brass optical tube – travel and focus are both very good with the optical tube holding in position as it should on adjustment.  Fine focus is via a second set of thumb-wheels also with smooth action.  The upper limb on this model of microscope is designed to tilt and there’s a mechanism for locking in position as required via a tension lever at the rear of the limb.  

3)  There’s a wide selection of objectives giving progressive magnification capabilities, with both antique and more modern Zeiss optics along with a few others, all with QR mounts, as under:

6x magnification – aa by Carl Zeiss
10x magnification – AA by Carl Zeiss
10x magnification – Leitz No. 3
25x magnification – 8mm Apochromatic by Leitz
30x approx magnification – No. 5 Apochromatic by Carl Zeiss
40x magnification NA 0.65 by Carl Zeiss (modern)
100x magnification – 2mm homogeneous immersion by Carl Zeiss
(there is also one spare QR mount)

The range of magnification provided is therefore 48x up to a theoretical 1,500x when using the 15x Kellner eyepiece with the Zeiss 2mm along with an immersion technique.

4)  The stage is fully mechanical, of a circular design with rotation and it has good level of resistance to motion so that it holds in position on adjustment and there’s also a locking mechanism.  The x and y axis controls are on the right-hand side giving a good range of smooth x/y adjustment.  The stage is fitted with a pair of sliders for holding slides steady which work well.  Note – the stage will not complete a full 360 degree rotation because of the x/y thumb-wheels catching on the limb.  

5)  Below stage there’s a ring mount that can accept a friction-fit condenser lens – it’s currently fitted with an Abbe-type NA 1.4 condenser lens assembly.  Below the condenser there’s a working iris – this also swings out of the optical path to allow access as may be required.  There’s also a rack and pinion system to adjust the sub-stage height with single-sided control. 

6)  Lighting is provided by a plano-concave mirror on a gimbal mount with age-appropriate silvering to both sides with some age-related foxing but still perfectly functional.

7)  There’s a good quality hardwood storage case supplied with lovely exterior sheen, together with internal racking for the QR objectives, re-covered carry-handle and a working lock & key which is always nice to have.

In summary, this is a highly collectable example of an antique Carl Zeiss Stand 1B microscope in very good condition and well endowed with an exquisite set of optics.  It may therefore appeal to collectors as well as specialists seeking a really well made quality antique Zeiss instrument. 

This is a heavy microscope, so for shipping it will be partially dismantled with parts well wrapped and labelled.  UK shipping will be by Royal Mail Special Delivery in view of the instrument’s value: hence the quoted cost.

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