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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Microscope
61 (W Watson
& Sons Ltd; KIMA model; c. 1921)
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 61 is a ‘KIMA’
Watson’s model with the serial number 30437, dating to c. 1921 (Figure 1,
left). The microscope is additionally engraved ‘Dental Hospital Dundee’, and was probably used at University of Dundee (UK).
This model includes a vertical fine focus mechanism. A redesigned KIMA model
was introduced in January 1926 containing a horizontal instead of vertical
fine focusing mechanism (Figure 1, right).
Figure 1. Watson’s KIMA microscope as originally
pictured in the firms’ 1924 catalogue (left) and the redesigned KIMA
microscope model as engraved in the 36th Watson catalogue from c.
1930. References W.
Watson and Sons (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/W._Watson_and_Sons),
last accessed on 12.08.2020 |
