Used Microscopes
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Microscopy Antiques
Reichert Monocular
This is an extremely rare very early Reichert with integral transmitted illumination. Serial number 12585. Finished in brass and black in very good condition. Twin objective turret with twin coarse focus and single fine focus controls and a focusing condenser. There is a field lens and filter carrier on top of the light box which has a ‘primitive’ transformer system and rheostat control. This still works although no transformer is supplied because of current safety regulations. A superb collectors piece.
Price £311.67 + vat
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Brass Antique Microscope
From a time when the look of a microscope was as important as what you could see down it. Dating from approximately 1900. This is a long tube monocular microscope in good condition for its age. Single objective (with the original brass objective part) and a single eyepiece. The stage has a simple sliding mechanism that allows traversing the slide. The mirror is in very good condition for its age. The microscope stand is hinged as would be expected for this length of barrel. A very nice addition to any collection.
Price £291.67 + vat
Sibert Objectives
This is a two tone brass objective lenses by Sibert who much later joined with Gillett to form the Gillett and Sibert (G&S) microscope company who were the last of the UK manufacturers to cease trading during the 1980’s. Complete with original cases. Standard RMS screw thread. Not often found.
Price £54.17 + vat
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Brunel Microscopes Ltd, Unit 2 Vincients Road, Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate, Chippenham, Wilts SN14 6NQ. Tel: 01249 462655. mail@brunelmicroscopes.co.uk
C Baker Dissecting Microscope
These were extremely popular as student dissecting microscopes because of their simple design which made them affordable at that time. This one would date from the 1930’s or so. The microscope consists simply of a dissecting area that has two magnifying lenses on a slider arrangement so that the magnifications of x5 and x10 can be chosen depending on the specimen. Two removable arm rests. This one shows some evidence of its age but is very solid in its construction. A collectors item.
Price £58.33 + vat
Leitz Wetzlar Microscope
One of the classic antique microscopes made by Leitz Wetzlar with a serial number of 290445 which dates it to 1030. Generally it is in very good condition for its age and is all original. Triple objective with x4, x10 and x45 brass objectives. There is some slight pickling of the brass of these usually caused by constant touching by hands. Elsewhere the general brass and body work is in good condition and the mirror shows minimal picking around its edge. Focusing condenser with iris diaphragm. X10 Leitz eyepiece. No stage clips.
Price £150.00 + vat
C.W. Dixey and Son Microscope
C.W. Dixey and Sons of 3 New Bond Street were from 1777 to 1929 opticians by appointment to several members of the Royal Family including notable Queen Victoria. Despite the fact it is branded with their name and address they would not have made this microscope and it is impossible to be sure of the actual manufacturers, but the base stand does have the look of an early Swift about it. It has a single unmarked objective and a x5 eyepiece. The body work and brass are in very good condition. The stage was made with a cut out at the front and between the stage clips, almost certainly to allow better lighting onto the mirror. Separate coarse focus with the fine focus a single control on the top of the stand. Obviously, a student’s microscope of its day but as would be expected of Dixey and Sons -
Price £204.17 + vat
Henry Crouch Microscope
Henry Crouch microscopes are highly sought after by collectors. Henry initially for a few years with his brother William made well respected microscopes from 1862 to 1907, based at a number of addresses in London during that time. This unit has a serial number of 5892 which dates it to circa 1892. This style of Crouch microscope became known as the histological microscope. It had the characteristic stand foot, rack and pinion coarse focus and column based fine focus, condenser with iris and a draw tube. This particular microscope has a rotating double turret with two objectives (not marked) and one eyepiece. As would be expected the brass finish in parts does show some ‘pickling’ , but compared to others we have seen from around that date could be termed in good condition. The mirror is also generally in good condition and the stage still has it clips in place. A genuine collectors piece.
Price £504.17 + vat
Reichert Wien Microscope
This is a Reichert microscope with a serial number of 28029 which places its manufacture at 1904.
It is in very good condition for its age and the brass finish is very good with very little tarnish. It is all original with a twin objective turret with 7a and 3 objectives. The draw tube provides coarse focus with the fine focus on the top of the stand. Mirror illumination with a series of under stage stops. The stage has slide clips. This is a very good antique
Price £254.17 + vat
Microscope by W and S Jones
William Jones (died 1831) and Samuel Jones (died 1859) bought the rights of the microscope book from George Adams in 1798 and between that date and the death of Samuel operated a very successful business manufacturing and selling mathematical and scientific instruments at 30 Holborn London. Their characteristic microscopes were often referred to as the new improved Jones microscope. Its design allowed it to folded completely flat for easy transport, presumably in a horses saddle bag. Their microscopes did not have serial numbers but since William died in 1831, it must date from between 1798 and 1831. Its general condition is good with minimal pickling of the brass but it obviously shows its age. Single eyetube with eyepiece and a single objective. Simple stage with specimen holder and a mirror which is in very good condition for its age. The stage and mirror are held by a simple pin mount and can both be removed easily.
SOLD
Watson and Sons Diatom Slide
This is a Watson and Son 313 High Holborn prepared slide of diatoms from Oamaru New Zealand. It is in a monogrammed cardboard case. These slides were often supplied by Watson with new microscopes to prove the effectiveness of lens resolution in defining striations within diatoms. Would date from circa 1910 or so.
Price £45.83 + vat
Watson and Sons Ltd Stage Micrometer
This is a stage micrometer from Watson and Sons Ltd in its original cardboard case with monogram although there is some damage to the top of the case as would be expected from its age. It is difficult to date accurately, but Watson and Sons became Ltd in 1908 and from its presentation a date a little after that would seem appropriate. The slide label is written with ink 100 in 1000 and there are monograms in each corner of the label which would relate to the individual that prepared the slide for Watson's.
Price £35.00 + vat
Watson and Sons Ltd Stage Micrometer
This is a stage micrometer from Watson and Sons Ltd It is difficult to date accurately, but Watson and Sons became Ltd in 1908 and from its presentation a date a little after that would seem appropriate. The slide label is written with ink and has the Watson monogram label with an application label saying for ‘low powers. 1/10 and 1/100..
Price £29.17 + vat
Burker Counting Chamber (2193)
This is quite a rare unit from the days when blood cell counting really was ‘counting’ (I did it myself back in the day!). It was used for counting both red blood cells and white blood cells by literally seeing how many were there in a diluted sample of blood against grids on the slide. It is complete with the sampling syringe, coverslips that are held by two clips and most importantly the original case. Not too many of these around now.
Price £35.00 + vat
R & J Beck Objective
This is a Beck brass objective -
SOLD
Ross Objective
Andrew Ross was a famous microscope maker who helped found the Microscopical Society of London (later the Royal Microscopical Society). His company made microscopes from about 1883 to 1900 and was considered one of the best microscope manufacturers of the Victorian era. Ross microscopes and accessories are now highly sought after. This objective is a 1/8th inch with a coverslip correction collar. It is in very good condition and complete with its monogrammed brass case. This would date from about 1890 or so.
SOLD
Carl Zeiss Objective
Zeiss is currently one of the leading brands of quality microscopes. The company was started by Carl Zeiss in 1857 in Jena Germany, but after 1945 when Germany was divided Zeiss became either Carl Zeiss or Zeiss Jena. That division no longer exists except in history. This brass objective is inscribed C. Zeiss and would date from around 1890 or so. It is not marked with a magnification factor but would be approximately x10. It has a coverslip thickness correction collar and is in very good condition for its age.
Price £37.50 + vat
R & J Beck Objective
Richard Beck and Joseph Beck form the microscope company R & J Beck in 1854 and are generally recognised has having improved the quality of microscope production during the Victorian era. This is a x10 objective finished in brass which is in reasonable condition for its age. It would date from 1900 or so.
Price £29.17 + vat
Antique Objective
This is a very nice antique two tone objective made mainly of brass. It does not have a makers name but is clearly marked 1/6th of an inch. Probably dates from about 1900 or so.
Price £20.83 + vat
Collection of Brass Objective Cases
This is simply a collection of ten brass objective cases (without objectives) a number are monogrammed and some are not. Amongst those named are Watson and Son, Reichert, Ross, J.H.Steward and Zeiss Jena. All are in very reasonable condition for their age.
Price £50.00 + vat
Brass Field Microscope
This is a very nice brass late Victorian/ early Edwardian field or beginners microscope dating from about 1910 or so. It is complete with a mahogany case with clips. The microscope is brass with a black base and has one eyepiece and objective giving a magnification of approximately x100. Mirror. illumination and focus is by sliding the microscope barrel. The condition of the brass is excellent for its age and it is complete with two prepared from the era of insect leg and wing together with a pair of brass forceps An excellent collectors item from a time when microscopes were are plentiful as mobile phones are today!
Price £145.83 + vat
MSE BAIRD & TATLOCK 40-
This to put it bluntly is a very unusual shaped microscope. Originally designed a a metallurgical microscope that is placed on top of the specimen. It has a battery powered light source that shines down from close quarters onto the specimen. The microscope has separate coarse and fine focus systems. There are not many of these surviving in such good condition as this example.
Price £137.50 + vat
Antique Drum Microscope
The Victorian era saw an explosion in the popularity of the ‘drum’ shaped microscope for the amateur microscopy market. These have basically three elements, The eyetube with an eyepiece that obtains focus by a ‘push/pull’ mechanism. The stage for the slide preparation. The base which provides stability and also the mirror mechanism. This one is in very good condition. A piece of Victorian evidence of the science explosion that was to follow.
Price £79.17 + vat
Hartnack and Prasmoski Microscope
This is quite a rare microscope from this very early French microscope supplier. Hartnack and Prasmoski are dated to Rue Bonaparte Paris and this microscopes has this provenance engraved on its stand. It dates from 1890 and is all original with one objective and eyepiece. It has a push/pull focus mechanism with an independent drawtube. The stage has its original slide clips. This is quite a unique original microscope that is all original.
Price £229.17 + vat
Victorian Sides in Vintage Case
This is a set of six Victorian prepared slides from notable preparers in a very nice vintage slide case. The slides are:
Diatoms by Russell
Flower bud by Abraham Flatters
Section of stem by W F Stanley
Sporodena sponge by Rev. J E Vize
Hemiptera (true bug) by Norman
SOLD
