Description

Offered for sale is a nicely presented and well seasoned example of Watson’s Edinburgh-pattern Research microscope in brass – it dates to around 1922 based on its serial number 26850 and also has “Research” engraved onto the rear of the tripod.  It’s marked W. Watson & Sons Ltd and post-dates the firm’s 1908 move to limited company status.  This is a decent example of the fairly rare Research model, with few signs of wear and a little lacquer loss, but still quite presentable brass-work that’s showing just a little age and use-related spotting here and there.  Overall, condition is still pretty good for an instrument that’s over a hundred years old and counting.

The Edinburgh pattern model of microscope was produced by Watson between 1887 and around 1945; its long production run giving us a firm clue regarding just how good this model of microscope was in its heyday.  The Research is an Edinburgh-pattern variant with two key differences (fine focus and stage) and a total of six as highlighted in Watson’s 1912 catalogue entry, which I’ve copied for the reader at the end of the listing photos:

– horizontal fine focus
– a Terrell mechanical stage with concentric x/y adjusters
– the mirror has a pin on the support rod to lock it in position
– optimised body & tube lengths
– sufficient coarse focus adjustment to allow the use of low-power objectives
– tension adjustment at the pivot with provision of a long tightening handle 

………and apart from all that, it’s essentially identical to the Edinburgh-H model microscope of the same period.

Turning to the technical details, the construction is a brass tripod in black painted finish, with bun feet that are attached by small brass screws.  From the tripod rise twin uprights to a pivot with long-lever tension adjustment available.  The upper limb is also in black-painted brass, with stage bolted to the limb and the sub-stage fittings attach to the underside of the stage.  The coarse focus is via rack and pinion with good smooth action that holds in position on adjustment.  Fine focus is operated via a separate pair of graduated brass thumb-wheels also located on the upper limb, which also have a good smooth action.

With the optics, this Watson microscope comes fitted with a period graduated brass eyepiece draw-tube inside a brass main optical tube and there’s two vintage eyepieces that with adequate illumination produce good bright images:

– 6x magnification
– 10x magnification

It’s also got four period objectives in total and a triple turret which rotates with a positive feel as the objectives slot into their viewing positions.  The objectives are as follows:

– 1 inch para by Watson – 6x magnification
– 2/3rds inch in brass unbranded – 10x magnification
– 1/6th inch in brass para by Watson – 40x magnification
– Leitz 1/12th inch brass objective – approx 100x magnification – requires oil immersion

Overall therefore, the range of magnification available with this Watson Research ranges from about 36x with the lowest power lens combination, up to around 1,000x with the highest power combination and oil immersion when using the 1/12th inch objective.

The fully mechanical stage is a Watson version of the Terrell stage design in brass, with twin concentric thumb-wheel adjusters on the right hand side of the stage that have a good positive feel and give adequate x/y sample movement.  It’s also fitted with two brass specimen clips that are fine for holding slides steady during inclined viewing and when the axes are being moved around.  The y-axis generally holds position on inclination but can slip on occasion.  

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a technical sub-stage with an Abbe-type condenser top-mounted to a brass ring-mount with centering.  The condenser also has a swing-out filter carrier and working iris with smooth action.  The whole condenser assembly also swings out for maintenance as shown.

For lighting there’s the original brass plano-concave mirror attached to the limb tailpiece with gimbal and slider for adjustment.  The mirror silvering is in very good condition to both sides.

The instrument’s controls and friction surfaces have been very lightly lubricated with non-hardening grease and operate smoothly with a nice feel and there’s not much in the way of noticeable of wear to any of the moving parts.  This instrument presents well for its age and usage profile, with brass-work that catches the light well as I hope the listing photos demonstrate.  This example presents well while being used as a desk-top instrument and will also display rather nicely in a library of home office setting.

There’s an original Watson storage case with this example, with wooden carry-handle and internal racking.  The lock and key are both present, which is always nice to have  Overall, the case has just the right aged look with the right level of patination and a nice exterior period sheen, so complements the antique microscope perfectly.

Owing to the weight and delicacy of this antique Edinburgh Research microscope and its case, it will be partially dismantled, very well wrapped for shipping and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.  

Thanks for looking.