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Microscope Museum Collection of antique microscopes and other
scientific instruments |
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Micrometer glass slide for
microscope calibration by W Watson & Sons Item
102 is a micrometer glass slide for microscope
calibration by W Watson & Sons. The slide is protected in a small box
with the inscription “W WATSON & SONS LTD, OPTICIANS, 313 HIGH HOLBORN,
LONDON”. The glass slide itself has no other marks beyond the micrometer scale. 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, was taken over by Philips. By 1970 the manufacture of
microscopes was over. Note:
this item was kindly donated by Dave Levell (Pembrokeshire, Wales) in May
2023. |