Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

Microscope 636 (R. Winkel; continental type microscope; c. 1915)

Rudolf Winkel started his microscope manufacturing company in 1857 in Gottingen, Germany. In 1858, he took F. G. Voigt as an apprentice, who later also started the firm Voigt & Hochgesang (in 1869). By 1880, Rudolf’s three sons were working in the company. After Rudolf’s death in 1905, the sons continued with the company, expanded the product range, and started mass production. By 1911, Carl Zeiss was a major shareholder of Winkel, and the company was incorporated as R. Winkel GmbH. In 1957, the company became part of the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Microscope 636 is engraved with “R. WINKEL, GOTTINGEN”, the serial number 16160, and should be dated to c. 1915. The wooden box of the instrument also contains a label of the retailer optician with the inscription “Scott, 180, Sauchiehall St., Glasgow”.

Note: this instrument was kindly donated by Martin Dickins (Reading, England) in July 2026.