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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
246 (Henry Crouch; c. 1890)
Henry Crouch learned his
trade as an apprentice with Smith, Beck & Beck. Henry left his masters
and formed his own company, probably in early 1862. His younger brother,
William, joined him. The original H. and W. Crouch shop was located on
Commercial Road, London, and their earliest instruments bear that address.
The Crouch brothers initially produced copies of the microscopes that Henry
had made for Smith, Beck & Beck. The partners soon focused on producing
good-quality, less-expensive microscopes for the middle-class microscopists
and students. Henry joined the Royal Microscopical Society in 1863, and the
Quekett Microscopical Club in 1866. Advertisements as early as September 1864
indicated a move to 64A Bishopsgate Street. For several years afterwards, the
Crouches retained the Commercial Road location as their factory, although not
as a retail location. The Crouch brothers dissolved their partnership on
1866, with Henry retaining the optical business. Henry Crouch’s business
moved ca. 1868, to London Wall, then to Barbican in early 1873. About 1886,
Henry incorporated as Henry Crouch Limited. Crouch sold the business in 1907
to S. Maw, Son and Sons. Henry then worked for that firm, supervising
manufacture of microscopes and other equipment. Many Crouch microscopes that
already existed were additionally stamped with the new owner’s name, and
newly made ones were imprinted on the foot with “S. Maw, Son and Sons”.
During the early 1900s, Henry Crouch began producing microscopes with
horse-shoe shaped, “continental” feet. Henry died in 1916. Microscope 246 is signed by Henry
Crouch, London, and has the serial number 4309, being dated to c. 1890. The
instrument came with its original wooden box. References Pearce
Henry Crouch, 1838 – 1916 (http://microscopist.net/CrouchH.html), last accessed on
07.11.2021 LAST
EDITED: 12.03.2022 |
