Description

Signed “Swift and Son, 43 University St. London, W.C.” on the anodized bronze foot, this is one of their earlier examples that was produced well into the 20th century from their Tottenham Court Road (1881)  address.

Standing 14 inches tall (20 inches fully racked up), the microscope has 90% original lacquer with only slight scratches, verdegris and signs of wear to the stage. The racks and pinions of both the main body tubes and binocular head are smooth and tight as is the inclination joint, allowing the microscope to be used horizontally. Carpenter wrote of it’s attributes in “The Microscope and it’s Revelations” in 1883 after the Firm had moved. He praised it’s construction and ease of use as well as the Patented substage which is the marvel of this microscope. 

The nose boasts fine adjustment by rotating worm and screw, and a prism and polariser that can be pushed/pulled out of the optical plane. The square stage sits atop a round stage with X-Y mechanical motion (flawless). The substage is elaborate with swining Abbe condenser, wheel of stops, selenite  and other rotating options terminating in a long polarising lens/prism.

The flawless double sided mirror swings from side to side on a pillar. The base is the stable horseshoe version. 4 objectives in various canisters (all Swift-2 inch, 4/10, 1/4 and 1/6). One pair of binocular eyepieces and a single for monocular work. Lieberkuhned objective cap, live box compressor, substage Nicol, double objective changer, and a wedge.

Missing are the stage forceps, large Nicol prism or wheel of stops, one pair of eyepieces and the bullseye bench condenser (could be obtained) to complete the 15 x 10 x 7 inch mahogany case with functional lock and key. Iron handle afixed to lid. 6 inch crack to back (will stablize).