Description

Offered for sale we have a good well-kept example of an antique monocular brass microscope by London makers Henry Crouch with the instrument serial number 1121 which is engraved onto the optical tube, likely to dating it to around the 1875 period.  The condition is generally good, with only a few minor age and use appropriate signs of wear to the finish on the instrument and just the right time worn look to its lacquered finish and brass-work.  This example is a good proposition for display, say on a desk-top or library setting.  It’s optics are nice and clean belying their age producing some nice bright images at low and medium magnification.  The objective thread is also RMS.  There’s also a nice fitted case.

Background to Henry Crouch, London – source Microscope Museum

Henry Crouch learned his trade as an apprentice with Smith, Beck & Beck. Henry then formed his own company, probably in early 1862. His younger brother, William, joined him. The original H. and W. Crouch shop was located on Commercial Road, London, and their earliest instruments bear that address. The Crouch brothers initially produced copies of the microscopes that Henry had made for Smith, Beck & Beck. The partners soon focused on producing good-quality, less-expensive microscopes for the middle-class microscopists and students. Henry joined the Royal Microscopical Society in 1863, and the Quekett Microscopical Club in 1866. Advertisements as early as September 1864 indicated a move to 64A Bishopsgate Street. For several years afterwards, the Crouches retained the Commercial Road location as their factory, although not as a retail location. The Crouch brothers dissolved their partnership in 1866, with Henry retaining the optical business. Henry Crouch’s business moved ca. 1868, to London Wall, then to Barbican in early 1873. About 1886, Henry incorporated as Henry Crouch Limited. Crouch sold the business in 1907 to S. Maw, Son and Sons. Henry then worked for that firm, supervising manufacture of microscopes and other equipment. Many Crouch microscopes that already existed were additionally stamped with the new owner’s name, and newly made ones were imprinted on the foot with “S. Maw, Son and Sons”. During the early 1900s, Henry Crouch began producing microscopes with horseshoe shaped, “continental” feet. Henry Crouch died in 1916. The image in the listingphotos is for the same Crouch model, instrument #663 dating to 1870.

Turning to the main technical details of this Victorian monocular microscope, we have the following:

1)  Reverse Y-shaped flat tripod foot construction in lacquered brass with black-painted panels and twin uprights to pivot, with Jackson-style upper limb form with recess for siting stage tools and lacquered brass finishes to the upper parts of the instrument.  The microscope is inclinable and holds position on adjustment and can be manually tightened at the pivot point as required.  There’s a limb tail-piece to which are attached stage and mirror.

2)  A monocular eyepiece unit with two top-hat style eyepieces giving around 6x and 10x magnification options.  The instrument also has a graduated eyepiece draw-tube.

3)  The instrument’s main coarse focus is controlled by a set of thumb-wheels and straight-cut rack & pinion with smooth action.  Travel and focus are both very good with positive feel and the optical tube holding in position as it should throughout its working range.  Fine focus is via a single brass thumb-wheel at the front of the optical tube acting on the nose-piece only, that also has a smooth action being freshly lubricated.

4)  There’s a selection of brass objective lenses as under:

– unmarked brass objective – low power high working distance – about 2 inches – 3x magnification
– 1/5th inch by Henry Crouch – 30x magnification with correct canister
– 1/10th inch by Henry Crouch – approx 75x magnification with correct canister

The objective lens and eyepieces supplied therefore provide an effective magnification of around 18x to 750x and it’s pleasing to note the RMS fitment, so plenty of other objectives should also fit the instrument. 

5)  The stage is of a circular design in brass with glass insert top-plate and full 360 degree rotation (small chip to margin).  The rotation is well damped so holds position on adjustment without any slippage.  It’s currently fitted with a brass clip for retaining the specimen holder/slider – this must be a later addition/replacement as it’s over-size so that slides when placed on the viewing ledge are slightly out of position for viewing.

6)  Sub-stage there’s a wheel-of-stops fitted to a friction-fit ring mount, with nicely damped rotation and 4 aperture sizes available and there’s a positive click when each aperture is correctly aligned.  There’s also a dark-field/oblique wheel-of-stop accessory that can be fitted as an alternative.

7)  Lighting is provided by plano-concave mirror on a gimbal mount slider fitted to the limb tail-piece, with height & swing adjustment and silvering that’s foxed but still in usable condition to both sides and reflectivity that’s perfectly adequate.

Accessories:

– stage forceps
– wheel-of-stops with dark-field/oblique stops

In summary, this is a nice clean example of an antique monocular microscope from the Victorian period by quality makers Henry Crouch, that’s in good condition for its age.  This example may therefore appeal to collectors as well as specialists seeking a quality brass instrument for use and/or display.  It’s also a perfect desk-top accessory – it’s about 17 inches in height when inclined with draw-tube extended for use as shown in listing photos.  

The instrument also has its original fitted wooden case with extensive internal fitments & racking.  The lock and key are missing, so there’s a couple of cupboard latches fitted to keep the case door/lid closed. The external finish to the case is in reasonably good condition for its age – also with brass carry-handle to one side.

For shipping, the instrument and case will be very well packed and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.  

Thanks for looking.