Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

    

Microscope 419 (Nachet; stereo microscope; 1940s)

 

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Camille Sébastien Nachet (1799 – 1881) started by working with Charles Chevalier and set up his own business in 1839. At that time, Chevalier, Oberhauser and Nachet were the main producers of microscopes in Paris. In the late 1850s, Nachet was joined by his son, Jean Alfred Nachet (1831-1908), who went by the name of Alfred. The firm was renamed Nachet et Fils around 1862, when Alfred was made a partner. Nachet was succeeded by his son, who named the firm ‘A Nachet’ from about 1880 to about 1890, when it became ‘Nachet et Fils’ once more when Alfred's son joined the partnership. By 1898 Nachet had taken over Hartnack and Prazmowski and also ‘Bezu, Hausser et cie’. The firm traded from Rue Serpente, Paris (1839 – 1862), Rue Séverin, Paris (1862 until after WW2), and Rue Chaptal 106, Levallois-Perret (1970s). Microscope 419 is a stereo microscope engraved with “NACHET, PARIS” and the serial number 102270. The instrument should be dated to the 1940s and has its original wooden box.

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