Antique R&J Beck Continental Microscope

Circa 1895

Fine example of a high quality antique microscope complete with two eyepiece lenses and three objective lenses. The microscope is made of brass and sits on a Y-shaped foot. The microscope tilts, the eyepiece tube is extendable and it has a rack and pinion coarse focus and an additional micrometer fine focus knob. It has a triple revolving nosepiece and a square shaped stage with an R&J Beck mechanical slide holder. Below the stage is a large adjustable mirror for focusing the light source towards the microscope. The substage apparatus is complex and has, among other pieces, a condenser, an aperture and a filter holder ring. The whole sub-stage moves up and down by a rack and pinion system on a brass knob below the stage.

The microscope is stamped on the back of the base with the makers name and serial number " R&J Beck Ltd. London. 24158". The microscope comes with two eyepiece lenses, marked 'Holos' '10' and '7'. There are three objective lenses, the first a Watson 1/9 in, the second a C.Reichert Wien No.2 and the third a C.Reichert Wien 8mm. Each lens comes with their matching brass lens cases. Although the lenses are not Beck lenses they have been with the microscope a long time as they correspond with the hand-written paper chart of lens strengths pinned to the inside of the door.

Overall the microscope is in good condition for its age. It has been used and will have normal signs of wear. There are some areas of tarnishing and wear on the brass lacquer where it has been handled and some general knocks and light scratches around the base but nothing detrimental. It has been cleaned and the brass lightly polished and it displays very nicely. All parts move smoothly as they should.

The microscope appears to be in good working order and I have set it up and tested it with a few old slides (See photo). The pictures are generally clear and crisp and the microscope is easy to focus with both the main and fine focus. I'm sure the lenses would probably benefit from a light clean and it is really being sold as a collectable item rather than an accurate scientific instrument.

The microscope comes in its original fitted wooden box with sections on the door to hold the lenses. The box has a good quality metal handle and is a strong and sturdy box with a nice patina and it comes with its original key.