Description

This is a stunning antique condition with clear optics, virtually no age and use-appropriate patina to its brass-work that I can detect. 109 year old example of the compact Watson Praxis that was originally retailed in Edinburgh towards the end of WWI – ideal example for a collector or as a display piece in a suitable setting.

Here we have a lovely collectable Praxis microscope by W. Watson & Sons Limited of London and for comparison purposes I’ve put a copy of the entry from Watson’s 1912 product catalogue at the end of the listing photos.  This example dates towards the end of WWI – 1917 based on the sequential Watson production number of 24134 which is engraved onto the instrument’s horseshoe or tuning-fork shaped foot. This instrument is in truly amazing for its age condition and has clearly been well looked after by its former custodians.  It presents with an almost flawless finish to the black paint and hardly any blemishes to the lacquer-work, which is quite remarkable given the instrument’s age.  Overall, it’s a great opportunity to acquire a usable vintage instrument that’s in just about perfect condition. 

Watson’s Praxis model was a small to mid-size model in Watson’s range of microscope offerings that was intended to compete directly with similar sized microscope offerings from continental manufacturers like Leitz and Zeiss.  

This example also benefits from a set of original period objective lenses and eyepieces that produce some nice images.  The Praxis is essentially an excellent piece of British quality optical engineering constructed from the right materials, with solid construction and hand-finishing to many of its components.  Feel the weight of it for one, despite being a small to mid-size antique microscope it’s still quite heavy with all that brass.  This is a sturdy Praxis microscope, fully working with no adverse signs of wear to its moving or technical components. 

Turning to the optics, this Watson Praxis is fitted with a chromed eyepiece draw-tube with graduation markings.  The main tube is in lacquered brass with coarse focus via rack and pinion with a nice smooth action, with the main tube holding in position as it should.  Fine focus is single brass thumb-wheel operating a vernier screw/internal lever arrangement which also moves smoothly with the right level of resistance to the touch and has just been lightly lubricated.   

The instrument is supplied with an appropriate set of original Watson eyepieces giving 6x, 8x and 10x magnification options and with good illumination they produces nice sharp images.  It’s also got two original brass objectives and a double turret, which rotates freely with a positive feel as the objectives rotate into viewing position.  The objectives are as follows:

– 2/3rds inch in brass – Watson -10x magnification
– 1/6th inch in brass – Watson – 40x magnification
(the objectives have correct brass canisters)

Overall, the range of magnification provided by this Watson therefore runs from about 60x to around 400x with good illumination.

The instrument tilts for inclined viewing, holding in position as it should.  The stage is a standard Watson ebonite covered brass stage that’s fitted with a pair of slide-clips which are fine for holding a slide steady especially when using inclined viewing.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have an Abbe-type condenser fitted into the 39mm brass ring mount that’s on a height adjustable helical screw arrangement that also swings out for easy change-over or maintenance of the condenser.  The condenser just push-fits into the sub-stage carrier and also has working iris and a 35mm swing-out filter carrier fitted.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror on a height adjustable support rod with gimbal giving good adjust-ability.  The mirror is in a brass holder with silvering just showing a tiny amount of foxing, with reflectivity that’s still fine.

Overall, this is lovely visual and also an excellent working example of Watson’s Praxis model in fine condition with usable period optics.  It’s also got its original case which is also in very good condition, with lock and key and a lovely exterior sheen, making it just about perfect and as good as one could expect.  The Watson guarantee card is also in the case and interestingly it’s serial number is 23133, so one digit out from the instrument which is as already mentioned 23134, so this is probably a case of instruments being put back in the wrong cases while at the retailer’s premises!

Owing to the weight and delicacy of the microscope, it will be partially dismantled, very well wrapped for shipping and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds.  Anyone who’s bought instruments from me previously will know that I take great care and pride in packing and shipping items including both domestic and international services.  

Please study the photos as they also form part of the description.

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