Antique & Scientific Instruments U.K.

ANTIQUE MICROSCOPES and ACCESSORIES for sale

GEORGIAN MICROSCOPES

none at the moment

 GRAND BINOCULAR MICROSCOPES

An antique binocular microscope which has the trade plate for J.PARKES & SON, 5 ST.MARY’S ROW BIRMINGHAM  on the foot, with accessories in it’s fitted mahogany case. This is an early Parkes model, dated around 1870. It has rack & pinion inter-ocular separation, straight rack & pinion main focus and limb mounted fine focus. The full mechanical stage has a rotating and sliding overstage, with threaded socket for sub-stage accessories. The Wenham prism assembly is removable from the nosepiece on a sliding shoe. The large plano-concave mirror has some age veining on both sides. Whilst the foot is the standard Ross claw foot type, the limb assembly is a cross between the Ross and Jackson types, possibly a prototype. The huge range of accessories include a box of cover slips, live box, large parabolic sub-stage condenser in brass can, sub-stage wheel of stops with blue filter, Wenham prism on sliding shoe, a sub-stage poleriser, nosepiece analyser, sub-stage condenser on thumbwheel controlled rackwork, two pairs (low power and high power) of top-hat style oculars, 3 different power eyepieces for high power monocular work, 4 objectives in matching brass cans (1/8, ¼, ½ & 2 inch), the two high power being adjustable for cover slip thickness. There is a sliding drawer containing some of the accessories, the rest of which are fitted into the main case. The microscope and accessories fit into a hand made dovetailed mahogany case with inset brass carry handle, lock but no key and a catch to the door.- £950

A very rare Wenham binocular microscope signed on the limb J T Slugg Manchester. Josiah Slugg was famous for his writings, particularly “REMINISCENCES OF MANCHESTER FIFTY YEARS AGO” published in 1881, and for making low cost astronomical telescopes. I can find no records of him ever having made a microscope and the engraving of his signature on this microscope is remarkably similar to his neighbour J B DANCER on a similar period instrument. Slugg was trained as a chemist and made his money from soda water whilst developing a keen interest in astronomy and scientific subjects. Like Dancer, he lectured on scientific subjects without taking a fee and he was a preacher at the local Wesleyan Sunday School in Manchester. This microscope was probably commissioned by Slugg in an attempt to produce a low cost binocular microscope. When it comes to quality, this is the bottom of the pile. The lacquer is poor, there is no mechanical inter-ocular separation, just a screw for each side to prevent the draw tube from coming out of the body. The stand is an early iron Society of Arts type foot, with recessed rack and thumbwheel driven pinion main focus, nosepiece lever fine focus, built-under wheel of stops condenser, plano-concave mirror and Wenham prism on a sliding shoe to facilitate low power binocular or monocular vision for high power work. Although the prism looks to be in good condition, the stereo vision leaves something to be desired. The minimal accessories comprise a pair of eyepieces and two non-RMS objectives in brass cans. One of the objectives is an early “button type” again similar to those used by Dancer on his early low cost microscopes. This type of objective can be used on different powers by removing or adding one of the “buttons. The microscope measures some 15 inches tall in the working position, and the oculars are removed to fit into its case. This model is an early development of the Wenham binocular microscope introduced in 1861 as it is fitted with pre-RMS objectives. The simple mechanical stage has a slide bar and (unusually) one control thumbwheel on each side of the stage. The rack work is in operating condition. The microscope and accessories fit into a (later I think) oak case with brass carry handle from which someone has removed the lock and fitted a later catch to hold the door closed. The microscope has, no doubt, had a life possibly being used by Slugg himself for research and reflects what can only be described as the “bottom end” of the binocular microscope range in the third quarter of the 19^th century, but it is still a working microscope and a very rare find. - £550

VICTORIAN MONOCULAR MICROSCOPES

A CONTINENTAL STYLE MICROSCOPE BY R & J BECK Ltd., LONDON This all brass microscope is by R & J Beck and is engraved on the base, R & J BECK Ltd, LONDON, 23741. It has rack & pinion course and micrometer thumbwheel fine focussing. The microscope comes with 3 signed objectives, a 1/8, 1/6, & 2/3 inch, with matching lacquered brass cans. It has two eyepieces and a twin nosepiece changer. The square stage has slide clips and the mechanical swing-out sub-stage holds an Abbe type condenser with iris type stop. The plano-concave mirror is mounted on an articulated swinging arm. All of this is mounted on a single brass pillar above a "Y" shaped foot. The microscope, which has all original lacquer, is in good condition (allowing for some age spotting) and comes in a mahogany case with accessories mounted on the inside of the door. The case has brass handle, hinges, lock and is about 11inches high - £345

A selection of small pocket or field microscopes. Prices range from £25 each

MICROSCOPES FROM THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

   A W.WATSON & SONS “PRAXIS” microscope, with accessories in a fitted oak case. The main focus is by rack & pinion and fine focus is by thumbwheel micrometer. The microscope has a swing out mechanical sub-stage, the mirror is on a fixed limb, and the brass continental style flat “Y” stand is engraved with the makers name, address and instrument serial number 18454 (which dates it to about 1915) and the model type.  The square stage has spring clips for slides. The microscope has a triple nosepiece changer and Abbe type substage condenser with swing-out filter stage. The instrument comes with accessories comprising three objectives (1/6 inch, 2/3 inch & 1/4 inch), a x6 and a No. 5 eyepiece. The case has a leather handle, brass hinges to the door and its original working lock & key. The whole instrument is in excellent working condition, mechanically & optically. - £325

MICROSCOPE SLIDES AND ACCESSORIES

Slides and accessories, slide cases, lenses, and microscopist's tools, etc., also available. Prices ranging from £15 - please ask for your specific requirements.

 BOOKS

The Microscope, a Practical Handbook by Drew & Wright, 1922- £15

Modern Microscopy by Cross & Cole, 1922- £25

The Beginner's Guide to the Microscope by Chas. E. Heath,F.R.M.S. 4^th edn. - The Beginner's Guide to the Microscope by Chas. E. Heath,F.R.M.S. 4^th edn. - on hold  

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