Antique Ross London Eclipse Microscope

Fine example of a high quality microscope in a fitted wooden case, complete with an eyepiece lens and and an objective lens. The microscope is made of brass and stands on an unusual circular base. The microscope tilts, has an extendable eyepiece tube, rack and pinion coarse focus and an additional micrometer fine focus knob. It has a square stage with two slide clips and a mirror below the stage to focus the light.

It is signed on the base with the makers name and serial number ; "Ross. London. Eclipse. 5912". The microscope comes with a good quality brass eyepiece lens marked "J.Swift & Son. London. 2/3in" and an objective lens marked '4'. 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). I'm sure the lenses would probably benefit from a clean but they produce a clear and bright image all the same and the microscope was easy to focus.

It comes in its original fitted wooden case with a leather carrying handle. The box no longer has a key but it is good quality and although it has some signs of age and use it is strong and sturdy and displays very well. The box is approximately 11 1/2" high X 6" wide and deep.

The microscope is in good condition for its age. There are some signs of age and use, the brass has tarnished in places and there are some small scratches and surface marks on the base but nothing detrimental. The lenses have small specks of dirt on and although in working order it is really being sold as a decorative / collectors item rather than a working scientific instrument. It has been cleaned and the brass lightly polished and it displays very nicely.