Good example of a high quality antique microscope dating from the early 20th Century. The microscope is made of brass and black lacquered metal 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 additional fine focus knobs. It has a triple revolving nosepiece and a square shaped stage with two slide holders. Below the stage is a large adjustable mirror for focusing the light source towards the microscope plus additional substage apparatus including 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 knob below the stage.
The microscope is stamped on the front of the tube with the makers name and serial number " W.R.Prior & Co,9-11 Eagles St, London, W1. 6643. H.P126".
The microscope comes complete with two eyepiece lenses and three objective lenses. The eyepiece lenses are marked x10 and x6. The objective lenses are all original Prior lenses and come with their matching brass lens cases in strengths 1/6, 2/3 and 1/12.
The microscope comes in its original fitted wooden box with sections to hold the lenses. The box has a good quality metal handle and is strong and sturdy with a nice patina. It is stamped with corresponding serial number '6643. H.P.126' inside the door above the magnification chart. We don't have a key.
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 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. The images 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.
