Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

Microscope 421 (W. Watson & Sons; Praxis microscope; 1914)

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, was taken over by Philips. By 1970 the manufacture of microscopes was over. Microscope 421 is a Watson’s microscope engraved with “W. Watson & Sons Ltd., 313 High Holborn, London”, “PRAXIS”, the serial number 19359 (Figure 1). The original wooden box of the instrument contains a label indicated the same serial number, the respective magnifications, and the date 03/07/1914. Both the microscope and the wooden box are also engraved with “C. U. A. D., 8”.

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

Figure 1. Watson’s Praxis stand microscope as engraved in the 1912 edition of the Watson catalogue.