Description

Offered for sale is an original and very well presented Service model microscope in lacquered brass finish by W. Watson & Sons Limited of London.  It dates to around 1934 based on the sequential Watson production number of 57693, which is engraved onto the optical tube.  

This inter-war example is a sound proposition as far as I can tell and has clearly been really well looked after by its former custodians, the first of which seems to have been a college and there’s an engraving on the top-plate “ARM.COLL.BY” although there’s no further information regarding the identity of this former custodian.  This example also benefits from a set of period lenses, presents well with hardly any age-related blemishes to its black paintwork or golden lacquer, with just a few age-related spots here and there as one would expect for an instrument of this vintage.  In fact, the brass-work really catches the sun and glints with a lovely warm yellow/golden glow as I hope the listing photos demonstrate.  

There’s an extract from a 1930s Watson catalogue at the end of the listing photo-stream confirming that customers could specify the high-power binocular head on any Watson microscope with the exception of the Kima model.  This example 57693 therefore seems to have been so specified, because it’s fitted with extra-wide coarse focus thumb-wheels with 5 inch separation and the universal body, both essential for the fitment of a Watson high-power binocular head, although a binocular unit is not supplied as part of this listing.  This example is certainly is a good looking instrument, with excellent optics and a good proposition for a Watson collector with a gap in their collection for an unusual instrument such as this.

On the technical side, the construction is a heavy iron foot, with twin uprights, pivot with lever-operated tension adjustment and Lister-type upper limb also in iron.  Both coarse and fine focus move freely through their working ranges with little wear evident, with slight deflection to left hand coarse focus thumb-wheel.  There’s a good range of coarse focus movement which should also allow the use of a low-power objective up to perhaps 1.5 or even 2 inches and corresponding high working distance.

Turning to the optics, this Watson microscope comes fitted with a universal monocular tube in lacquered brass that fits into a modified optical assembly – all explained in the Watson catalogue extract in the listing photos.  There’s three vintage eyepieces that with good illumination produce excellent images:

– 6x magnification – R & J Beck
– 8x magnification  – C. Baker
– 15x magnification – Seibert

There are three vintage Watson objectives along with a triple turret, which rotates freely with a positive feel as the objectives slot into position.  The objectives are as follows:

– 30mm low power by Reichert – with internal iris (working) – 5x magnification
– 2/3rds inch  -10x magnification
– 1/6th inch – 40x magnification 

(The objectives have appropriate period canisters)

Overall, the range of magnification provided by this Watson Standard therefore ranges from about 30x to a perfectly respectable and usable 600x.

The stage is a standard Watson ebonite with metal core for the Service model that’s fitted with a Watson circular profile non-rotating mechanical over-stage, with x/y adjusters to the right-hand side, vernier scales and a slide clamping system with sprung arm and two small additional spring steel clips which work well.  

Turning to the sub-stage, we have an Watson Universal condenser with RMS thread also with iris and 35mm filter holder contained in a ring mount with centering and height adjustment via a twin sided rack & pinion system. Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror on a brass support arm fitted to the underside of the limb tail-piece, with height adjustment and gimbal and the benefit of good silvering to both sides.

This is a great visual and working example of Watson’s High Service model microscope in brass with special additions allowing it to also receive a suitable Watson high-power binocular head.  It’s got excellent originality, making it quite an interesting proposition for a collector.  It’s in unmolested condition with good optics and it’s essentially a very collectable brass example of this rare-to-market Service variant.  

There’s currently no case with the instrument at the present time.

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.  

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