Description

Watson & sons Edinburgh-H c1898 serial no. 4834 – antique stand “H” model.

This listing is for an early example of an antique Edinburgh Student’s Stand-H model microscope in brass by W. Watson & Sons of London.  It dates from around 1898 based on the sequential Watson production number of 4834, which is engraved onto the tripod, just above the rear foot.  It’s an Edinburgh-H model – these were produced 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 day.   This particular example was originally retailed in Glasgow by Watson’s Scottish sales agents W. W. Scott & Co, Opticians of 180 Sauchiehall Street.    The Watson Edinburgh stand was originally developed by Watson in collaboration with a professor and lecturer in bacteriology at the University of Edinburgh – hence the Edinburgh model designation. 

This Edinburgh H is essentially an excellent piece of British optical engineering showing its quality from solid construction, great design and skilled workmanship with plenty of hand-finishing of components carried out in this period.  This is therefore a sturdy, quality, well-made antique microscope in good honest condition, fully working and the moving parts seem to be free from significant wear.  This example is well patinated, with some evidence of historic polishing and losses to lacquer finishes – all very much in keeping with its age and usage profile – probably with quite a back story.  

Turning to the technical details, the stand is a tripod form in anodised brass with twin uprights to the pivot point, to which attaches the upper limb also in anodised brass.  The coarse focus is via rack and pinion which has a good smooth action, with fine focus achieved via a separate thumb-wheel located at the rear of the upper limb which operates an internal lever system and also works nice and smoothly.

With the optics, this Watson microscope comes fitted with a nice period graduated brass eyepiece draw-tube and two quality vintage eyepieces that with good illumination produces excellent images:

– 6x magnification – Watson
– 10x magnification – Watson (later example)

There’s also a Watson projection eyepiece supplied.

There are two period Watson objectives and a double brass turret, which rotates with a positive feel as the objectives slot into their viewing position as follows:

– 2/3rd inch brass – 10x magnification
– 1/6th inch in brass – 40x magnification

The Watson objectives will be later replacements and also come with modern storage canisters. 

Overall, the range of magnification available with this Watson therefore ranges from about 60x to a perfectly respectable 400x.

The mechanical stage attaches to the underside of the limb and is an original Watson item in brass with twin slide clips and retaining lugs for positioning and holding slides during inclined viewing.  The stage top-plate also rotates as demonstrated and will turn through a full 360 degrees, which is a useful feature of the Edinburgh-H model, although this specific feature was phased out in the early 1900s.  The x/y controls offer fine control of specimen positioning during viewing sessions, which is a real advantage for higher magnification work.  Overall the stage is complete and works well, with visible surface patina and signs of use.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a Watson Abbe-style condenser top-mounted into a brass ring-mount with centering.  This sits in a height adjustable rack and pinion mechanism which also swings out to allow changing condenser type, carrying out maintenance or just for microscopy techniques that don’t require using a condenser.  The condenser assembly also has a working iris to control lighting levels.  There’s a swing-out holder fitted, allowing coloured, opaque or dark-field filters to be inserted.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror held in a brass carrier/slider which is in very good condition on its swing-adjustable brass support arm and gimbal set-up, with period silvering that’s near perfect to both sides.

This is a decent visual and working example of Watson’s classic Edinburgh Stand-H model in mainly original condition with good usable optics and it’s essentially in collectable condition.  This is therefore an opportunity to acquire an early pre-1900 Edinburgh-H with the following early features that were later phased out from this model:

– more angled shape to the tripod
– rotating top-plate to mechanical stage
– swing adjustment to mirror support rod

There is also a period-correct storage case with this example, which is in excellent condition for its age with internal lens rack, a nice leather handle, lock present and is just missing a key.

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

Thanks for looking