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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
174 (W Watson
& Sons Ltd; Bactil microscope model; c. 1955)
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 174 is a ‘Bactil’ binocular
Watson’s (Barnet) model (Figure 1). The serial number of the instrument is
115260, allowing to date the instrument to c. 1955. The stage’s serial number
is 30002 and contains a universal Nº 1 Condenser Watson K6648.
Figure
1.
Watson’s Bactil binocular microscope as featured in
a 1956 catalogue of Gallenkamp. |
