Antique Watson & Sons - The Analyst's Brass Binocular Microscope - c1888, Cased

This listing is for a nice antique example of Watson's Jackson-pattern stand known as The Analyst's microscope in anodised and lacquered brass - it dates to around 1888 based on its serial number 2038, so it's quite an early Watson dating to around the time Watson introduced their Edinburgh series of instruments.  It's marked Watson & Sons with their address at 313 High Holborn and so dates to a few years after the second Watson son joined the firm in 1882 and also significantly pre-dates the firm's move to limited company status which occurred in 1908.  This being an early example of a Watson and over 130 years old, as you'd expect it's got some signs of use/wear with lacquered brass-work that's in quite remarkable condition showing very little age-related spotting/tarnishing and just a few lacquer losses here and there, giving the instrument a lovely patina and rather nice time-worn look.

With the optics, this Watson microscope comes fitted with non-graduated brass eyepiece draw-tubes operated by rack and pinion mechanism, with smooth action.  There's a pair of Watson 6x magnification top-hat B eyepieces.  

There are three period objectives as follows:

- 2 inches - Watson - 3x magnification with brass canister
- 2/3rds inch in brass - by Andrew Ross - 10x magnification
- 1/8th inch in brass - no maker's name - 50x magnification with later canister

Overall therefore, the range of magnification available with this Watson ranges from about 18x with the lowest power lens combination, up to around 300x with the highest power combination.

The specimen stage is all-brass with a patterned surface finish and is currently fitted with the Watson universal stage, which works well giving good range of x/y adjustment and it holds position as it should.  There's just a single slide clip, but this fine for holding slides steady. 

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a brass friction-fit mount currently fitted with a wheel-of-stops with 4 positions and nice smooth rotation.  Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror (probably a later replacement) in a brass mount that's on a height and swing-adjustable brass support arm with slider and gimbal, with period silvering that's in decent condition to both sides.

Accessories:
- dark-ground plug-in condenser for dark-field illumination
- live box in brass

This lovely microscope and case are amazing. It will make a great display in home, office, of science classroom.
Selling for $1200.00 + $125.00 FedEx shipping and insurance + $48 PayPal fee if using PP. If not, skip the $48.
CONUS ONLY!  Accepting PayPal, USPS money order, or cashier check.