Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

Standard microscope oil lamp brass holder by W. Watson & Sons (c. 1900)

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Microscope oil lamp brass holder engraved with “W. WATSON & SONS, 313 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, WC”. This microscope lamp was described as “Standard lamp” in a 1912 catalogue of the firm (Figure 1) and should be dated to c. 1900. The original oil lamp font, burner and chimney are missing. 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. 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.

Figure 1. Watson’s standard microscope lamp as featured in a 1912 catalogue of the firm.