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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Set for slide preparation Watson
& Sons Ltd
Cabinet box from Watson & Sons Ltd
containing glassware, brass table, ringing table and glass slides and
coverslips used for the preparation of fixed permanent microscope slides
dated to the early 20th century. Figure 1 illustrates a mounting
cabinet and a ringing table as pictured on a Watson’s 1918 catalogue. 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.
Figure 1. A mounting cabinet (left) and a ringing table (right)
as pictured on a Watson’s 1918 catalogue. These mounting cabinets contained
asphalt, three bottles for solutions, a brass table, Canada balsam, cells,
cover glasses, two dissecting knives, dissecting needles, forceps and
scissors, glass slips, labels, marine glue, spirit lamp, spring clips, a
ringing table, among other items. LAST
EDITED: 15.08.2020 |
