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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
403 (Watson Barnet; 5:1 Zoom
stereomicroscope; c. 1966)
W. Watson & Sons were opticians
and camera makers trading from London and Edinburgh. The company was
originally founded in 1837 by William Watson at 71 City Road, and the
business continued at this address until 1861, when it moved to 313 High
Holborn. In 1867, the name was changed to W. Watson & Son. In 1882, the
name was changed to W. Watson & Sons. In 1900 the company acquired the
John Browning and Co., and in 1908 the firm became W. Watson & Sons Ltd.
In 1929 they published an advert in the British Industries Fair Catalogue as
an Optical, Scientific and Photographic Exhibit, highlighting the manufacture
of microscopes for medical, industrial, and educational purposes. Into the
1950s, the company changed their address to 25 West End Lane, Barnet, Hertfordshire,
where they stayed until the late 1960s. In 1957 the company was acquired by
Pye of Cambridge and ten years later, taken over by Philips. By 1970 the
manufacture of microscopes was over. Microscope 403 is labelled with “WATSON
BARNET” and the serial number 145515, suggesting this instrument should be
dated to c. 1966. The base of the instrument is labelled with “WATSON”. There
is also a plate of the retailer with the information “JOHN H. BASSET &
SON, 43, PENTLANDS CLOSE, MITCHAM, SURREY, MIT.1944”. The instrument is named
as ‘Watson 5:1 Zoom stereomicroscope’ in a 1968 Townson & Mercer’s
catalogue (Figure 1). Note: this instrument was kindly
donated by Dave Levell (Pembrokeshire, Wales) in May 2023.
Figure
1.
Watson 5:1 Zoom stereomicroscope as featured in a 1968 Townson & Mercer’s
catalogue. |
