Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

      

Microscope 434 (W. Watson & Sons; Greenhough stereoscopic microscope; 1959)

 

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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 434 is a Watson’s Greenhough stereoscopic microscope (Figure 1). The instrument has the serial number 127447 and a magnification table in the original wooden box of the instrument states the date 1959. The instrument is engraved with “WATSON BARNET”. The instrument is fitted with a mechanical stage also engraved with “WATSON, BARNET” and the serial number 31197. The microscope, mechanical stage and eyepieces are also engraved with the name of a previous owner, “Min. of Ag. & Fish., 32”, which should correspond to the British Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, a designation used between 1919 and 1955, after which was designated Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In 2002, the ministry incorporated the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Note: this instrument was kindly donated by Dave Levell (Pembrokeshire, Wales) in May 2023.

 

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Figure 1. Watson’s stereoscopic microscope as featured in a 1960 Gallenkamp’s catalogue.