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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
electrical illuminator by Vickers Item
97 is a microscope electrical illuminator from Vickers. The instrument should
be dated to the 1960s – 1970s. The scientific instrument maker T. Cooke &
Sons (1837 – 1922) was founded by Thomas Cooke in York in 1837. Thomas Cooke
built his own factory on Bishophill, York, in 1855,
producing a great range of spectacles, telescopes and other items. By the
turn of the century, defence products for the home market had also become an
important field of the company. In 1915 the control of Cooke's was acquired
by Vickers Ltd., an engineering firm of shipbuilding and aircraft, who had
long had an interest in the military side of Cooke products. Cooke’s
continued to expand in York and in 1922 they merged with the long-established
instrument-making firm of Troughton & Simms of London (1824-1922). The
new firm became Cooke, Troughton & Simms and in 1924 it became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Vickers. After the war microscopes, survey equipment and
engineers' measuring instruments became the main products. In 1963, following
the acquisition of the C. Baker Ltd microscope factory, the new company of
Vickers Instruments was formed. This company continued for many years, mainly
selling microscopes, surveying instruments and micro measurement apparatus.
In 1989 the business was sold to Bio-Rad Micromeasurements,
an American company based in California, apart from the defence products,
which were acquired by British Aerospace. Note:
this item was kindly donated by Dave Levell (Pembrokeshire, Wales) in May
2023. |