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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 |
