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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. |
