I
buy antique brass microscopes and all kinds of early microscope
accessories including: lenses, parts, microscope oil lamps,
prepared slides, slide preparation equipment, and slide
cabinets. Also needed for my collection are old microscope
related books, trade catalogs, and artwork depicting microscopes
and other kinds of antique scientific instruments. I have been
collecting antique microscopes for over 30 years and there are
still many that I am looking for. If you have an antique
microscope you would like to sell, please don't hesitate to
contact me with the information. I will respond to all
inquiries. I am also interested in other types of historical
medical and scientific instruments.
On this site you can view some of the antique microscopes in my
collection. They date from the early 18th to the early 20th
century. You can browse the site simply by viewing the images on
the various pages or, in a more organized manner, by using the Site Index. I hope you find these instruments as interesting as I do.
Email: wissnera@verizon.net
new and recently modified pages
click on the images for more information and photos
C. Kellner in Wetzlar, Belthle & Rexroth, No.
451, c. 1861. Large Model Microscope
Andrew Pritchard, 162 Fleet Street, London.
Monocular microscope c.1845
Schrauer, Maker, New York. Monocular microscope
with draw-tube focusing
L. Schrauer, Maker, New York. Continental style
monocular microscope, c.1892
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. The Universal model
microscope fitted with binocular tubes. Pat. Oct.
3, 1876 and Oct 13, 1885
Nachet Opticien, rue Serpente 16, Paris. Pocket
microscope folds in a brass case, c. 1853
Pistor & Martins, Berlin, No. 667. Monocular
microscope on a circular base, c.1860
L. Schrauer, Maker, 42 Nassau St., New York.
Microscope on a double pillar. c.1880
R. & J. Beck, London & Philadelphia, #8147.
The Holmes Class microscope c.1878
G. & S. Merz Munchen N:866. Large model
monocular microscope, c. 1868
Highley's Educational microscope compendium with
chain drive focus, c. 1865
Horizontal microscope: Made for Widdifield and Co.,
Boston. c. 1845. Attributed to Buron, Paris
W. Watson & Sons 313 High Holborn London
#10251. The Van Heurck No.1 model microscope. c.
1908
Baker 224 High Holborn London. The No. 2 Nelson
model microscope. c. 1895
Powell & Lealand, Elmsdale, Greenham Road,
Muswell Hill N., Late of 170 Eustan Road N. W. The
monocular No.1 microscope, c.1908
The Harley Wenham model binocular microscope.
Collins London, 1883
Wenham binocular microscope: J.B. Dancer Optician
No. 371 Manchester
Watson and Son 313 High Holborn London #912, The
Jackson No. 2 Model binocular microscope, c. 1880
Binocular microscope: H.&W. Crouch 64a
Bishopsgate Street, London. serial no. 306, c. 1865
Carpenter type Improved microscope: The New
Improved Compound Microscope for Opake and
Transparent Objects
Porter and Hunt, London, Gould type case-mounted
microscope. c, 1830.
Microscope with polarizing attachments: Stativ I,
Carl Zeiss, Jena, 1351 / 2259. c. 1874
Monocular microscope with fusee chain drive
focusing: W. Ladd Beak St. Regent St. W. c. 1865
E. Leitz Wetslar, No. 6260 Stativ IV, continental
style microscope, c. 1883
Wenham binocular microscope: Charles G. Ewing San
Francisco c. 1870. Likely of English origin.
Petrological microscope: E. Leitz Wetzlar No.25280;
Mineralogical Stand I, c. 1892
Jones Most Improved model microscope. Signed: Bate,
London, c. 1825
An Improved model microscope with early Canadian
history, English unsigned, c. 1835
E. B. Meyrowitz, New York. J. Zentmayer, Phila.
Pat'd Aug. 14, 76. The American Columbian Stand
Powell & Lealand, 170 Euston Road, London,
dated 1892. The binocular No. 1 model
Monocular microscope: Bausch & Lomb Optical.
Co., Rochester NY, #768, Educational model, c. 1879
Gilbert & Sons, London, Jones Most Improved
model microscope, c. 1815
Boston Optical Works, Tolles No. 15. The B Model
Microscope. c. 1870
Horne Thornthwaite & Wood 123 Newgate Street
London c.1848. Inclining microscope.
C. Baker 244 High Holborn London #6389. The R.M.S.
1.27 model microscope c.1911
R. Fuess Berlin #131. The Rosenbusch model c.1878.
An example of the first type of petrological
microscope
J. Swift and Son London W. patent 24960. Portable
Histological microscope
Ross's Diatom-finder or Field Hand Microscope, c.
1875
Invented by M. Pillischer Optician 398 Oxford St.,
London, N. 32. The Lenticular Microscope. c. 1851
The Swift-Brown Pocket Microscope. c. 1880
McIntosh Battery and Optical Co., Chicago, No. 458.
The Scientific Microscope No. 1, c. 1890
Dollond London. Jones type botanical microscope,
c.1830
An Ellis aquatic type microscope with rack and
pinion focusing, unsigned, c.1775
E. Hartnack & A. Prazmowski, Rue Bonaparte 1,
Paris, #13936, c. 1875. Continental microscope
A. Ross London, #443 , dissecting or preparation
microscope, c.1851
Signed: Jno Ehrmann, Maker, 1905. A microscope made
by an unknown maker
Petrological microscope, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
No.221090, CM model, c. 1923
This microscope is unsigned but is attributed
Charles Chevalier, Paris. c. 1855
Portable microscope signed: John Browning London
#419, c. 1875
Swift & Son 81 Tottenham Court Rd London W.C.
The "Challenge" binocular microscope
Grunow, New York; microscope with spiral tube
focusing. Late 19th century.
Monocular microscope with polarizing attachments:
E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 6097, Stativ Nr. 1b, c.1884
Nuremberg toy Culpeper style microscope. c. 1800
signed IM. Made of wood and cardboard
McIntosh Battery &Optical Co., Chicago # 397.
The New Clinical Microscope No. 2, c. 1880
T. H. McAllister, N.Y. The Student's model
microscope with fusee chain focusing, c. 1876
Signed: Deleuil. Raspail type simple chemical or
dissecting microscope, c. 1835
Small Culpeper microscope with rack and
pinion focusing, unsigned, c. 1800
Signed: Adams London. Small Culpeper style
microscope with draw-tube focusing. c. 1790
Carl Zeiss Jena, No. 8223. Stand I continental
model microscope, c. 1885
Solar microscope with screw barrel, c. 1750. Used
as a solar or hand-held microscope
A group of French microscopes c.1860. Each
apparently made by the same manufacturer
A group of French microscopes c.1860. Each
apparently made by the same manufacturer
Highley, London. c. 1865. Aquarium Microscope. Part
of a compendium
Nachet 17 rue St. Severin, Paris. Nachet Portable
Traveling Microscope c. 1880
Likely English made botanical microscope mounted on
a sharkskin case. c. 1800
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. Pat'd Oct. 8, 1876
and Oct. 13, 1885. The Professional model
microscope
W. Matthews Camden Rd., London. Case-mounted
portable microscope c. 1858
Bate London, Jones Improved type microscope, c.
1820. Case mounted microscope with draw
A cased set of injected preparations by the
Austrian anatomist Josef Hyrtl. c. 1850
Carl Zeiss, Jena. No. 28495. The IVa continental
model microscope. c. 1897
Signed: Bate, London. Smaller Most Improved type
microscope c. 1825
Signed on the stage: Geo. Wale, Pat. App. for. The
New Working MIcroscope, c. 1880
Smith Beck & Beck, London #3114. The Universal
Model Wenham Binocular Microscope c. 1862
F.W. Schieck Berlin S.W. No. 7982. Continental
style microscope, c.1884
Smith Beck & Beck, London. A set of disks with
a disk revolver for mounting opaque objects
Bausch Lomb Optical Co. The Model microscope, Pat. Oct. 3, 1876 and Oct 13, 1885, c.1887
W. Watson & Sons Ltd, 313 High Holborn London
#10844. The Van Heurck No.1 model microscope, c.
1910
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. Rochester NY, #27818. The Grand Continental Model Microscope DDS. c. 1898
L. Schrauer, New York. Leopold Schrauer's Wale-Limb
Microscope, c. 1880
L. Schrauer, Maker, New York. Schrauer's Physicians Model Microscope, c. 1880
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. The Williams
petrological microscope.c. 1888
Case-mounted botanical or Entomological Microscope.
"The School Microscope", c.1880
Horne Thornthwaite & Wood, 123 Newgate St.
London. Stage-focusing microscope, c.1850
J. Grunow, New York, serial number 950. Monocular
microscope, c. 1889
Early bar-limb microscope: signed on the base Ross,
London No. 88 and on the stage Powell &
Lealand, London. c. 1843
Jas. Smith , London #109. The Microscope of Robley
Dunglison, MD (1798-1869), c. 1845
J. & W. Grunow, New York #499. Binocular
microscope with Varley Stage
Boston Optical Works, Tolles, #159. Student
microscope with rack and pinion focusing, c. 1870
Tolles, Boston #290. Student microscope with
two fine adjustment mechanisms, c. 1874
Made by Jos. Zentmayer, Philad, serial No. 14. The
Grand American model, c. 1860
J. & W. Grunow #594 Wenham binocular microscope
mounted on a double pillar, c. 1874
Hartnack's Drawing Apparatus. The Embryograph of
Wilhelm His, c. 1881
Monocular microscope made by Charles A. Spencer.
Pritchard type c. 1860
Charles A. Spencer's Trunnion Model Microscope c.
1855
Charles A. Spencer (Spencer & Eaton). The Large
Trunnion Model microscope with lever activated
stage, c. 1859
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Pat. Oct. 3, 1876,
Serial No. 2188. The Physician's model microscope
(second form), c. 1883
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Pat. Oct. 3, 1876,
Serial No. 1078. The Physician's model microscope
(first form), c. 1879
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester NY, Serial
No. 76, Pat. Oct. 3, 1876. The Professional model
microscope, c. 1876
C. Kellner's nachfolger, FR. Belthle in Wetzlar,
No. 945. Objectives signed Belthle & Leitz, c.
1866.
L. Schrauer, Maker, New York. Prize Microscope
Awarded to Frank Caudkins Bunn, M.D., 1889
George L. Gowlland, Cambridge Mass. (attributed).
Monocular Microscope, c. 1890
E. Leitz, New York. Serial # 53059. Leitz
Travelling Microscope c. 1900
Portrait of the Romanian microscopist Ioan
Cantacuzino (1863-1934). Artist signed: A.
Lavrillier, Jassy 1918. Bronze plaque 150 mm in
diameter.
Nachet, 17 rue St. Severin, Paris. The Nachet-Smith
Inverted Chemical Microscope, c. 1885
French Drum Microscope with stage fine focus
(Nachet type), c. 1850
C. Kellner in Wetzlar, Belthle & Rexroth, No.
280, c. 1859. The microscope of Louis Bauer, MD
(1814-1898)
Seibert in Wetzlar No. 8984. Petrological
(Polarizing) Microscope, c. 1898
E. Leitz, Wetzlar. Large preparation (dissecting)
microscope with erecting prism. Model W, c. 1925
Field or Pocket Microscope marked "Junior" , c. 1925. Made by Spindler & Hoyer, Göttingen
G.Oberhaeuser, Place Dauphine, Paris. #1812. Small Drum microscope, c. 1850
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Pat. Oct. 3, 1876,
#3340, The Universal model microscope with a nickel
plated surface finish, c. 1885
E. Leitz Wetzlar, serial No. 8750. Mittleres
mikroskop - Stativ III, c. 1886
J. Swift, Optician, 128 City Road, London E. C.
Binocular microscope for conventional and polarized
light microscopy, c. 1870
R. Fuess Steglitz-Berlin, # 1414. Smaller
petrological microscope model Va, c.1908
Dollond London, Cuff's New Constructed Double
Microscope, c. 1765
Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar; serial # 196553. Leitz Large
Travelling Microscope "DT", c. 1920
L. Schrauer, Maker, N. Y., Second Prize Microscope
Awarded to Joseph E. McKenzie, M.D. by the New York
Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, 1892
Secretan à Paris. Solar microscope, c. 1865
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester NY. An
early version of the Investigator model microscope,
c. 1880
Case-mounted English botanical microscope with a
fine focusing adjustment, c. 1840
A. Ross, London #599. Large Bar-limb Microscope by
Andrew Ross, c. 1855
Signed: Made for McAllister & Co.,
Philadelphia. Imported larger case-mounted French
microscope, c.1844
Signed: Made for McAllister & Co.,
Philadelphia. Imported smaller case-mounted French
microscope, c.1844
J. Swift & Son, London, #14790. The Advanced
Student's Petrological Microscope, c. 190
E. Hartnack sucr. de G. Oberhaeuser. Place Dauphine
21, Paris, #5024. Middle model drum microscope, c.
1865
Mackenzie 15 Cheapside London. New Improved Pocket
Compound Microscope . Cary-Gould type microscope,
c. 1830.
Paul Waechter, Berlin #12416, Large model No. 1b
for bacteriological investigations, c. 1888. The
microscope of Dr. Julius Townsend Rose MD
(1869-1950)
Brunner à Paris, 34 Rue des Bernardins. Gruby Type
Pocket Microscope, c. 1842
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. N.Y., # 36575. Bausch
& Lomb Petrographical Microscope. Stand LC, c.
1902
Dollond London. Gould type chest microscope, c.1830
L. Schrauer, Maker, New York. Large continental
style microscope, c. 1880
Powell & Lealand, 4 Seymour Place, Euston
Square, London. Monocular microscope dated 1850.
Model No. 3
Bausch & Lomb Harvard Model microscope, No.
3729, inclinable. c. 1888
Bausch & Lomb Harvard Model microscope No.
5598, non-inclinable, c. 1885
R. & J. Beck, 31 Cornhill, London, #5703. The
Large Best model binocular microscope. c.1871x
A Most Improved type microscope with advanced
features. An early achromatic (and non-achromatic)
transitional microscope, c. 1830
Portrait in oil of Jakob Vimpel in his laboratory
at the Carlsberg Breweries. Danish, first quarter
of the 20th century.
C. Kellner's nachfolger, FR. Belthle in Wetzlar,
No. 829, c. 1866. Model 3a, Kleines Mikroskop
Pike Maker, 518 Broadway New York, No. 120. Large
microscope with Lister-limb made by Daniel Pike, c.
1871
Waechter's (or Engell's) Class or Demonstration
Microscope, c. 1885
W. H. Bulloch, Chicago, Pat. 1879, #260. The No. 1
Professional Binocular Microscope. c.1883
Plössl in Wien. Non-inclining Large Microscope, c.
1845
Wilson screw barrel microscope in a fish skin
covered case signed: Culpeper Fecit, c. 1720
T. H. McAllister, N. Y. The Physician' Model
Microscope, c.1880
Compound and Simple Microscope on a folding tripod
base. English, unsigned. c.1815 (Possibly made by
Matthew Berge, London)
R. & J. Beck, 31 Cornhill, London, #6251. The
Large Best Portable Binocular Microscope, c.1872
Pillischer, London # 5692. The Kosmos model microscope, c.1895
C. Zeiss, Jena 4969. Microscope model Va.
Continental style microscope, c. 1880
French botanical or entomological microscope, c.
1880
J. Swift and Son, London. Patent 24960. Portable
Histological model microscope in aluminum, c. 1895
Yawman & Erbe Rochester N.Y., c. 1884. Engraved
on the fine adjustment knob: Pat. Aug. 15, 1882
J. Zentmayer, Philadelphia, Patented 1876, No.
2504. The American Centennial binocular microscope,
c. 1885
American made microscope on a double pillar and
rotating base. Most likely made by an amateur, c.
1885
James Swift, London (attributed). Portable folding
microscope with polarization. c. 1877
J. Grunow, New York No. 984, c. 1889. Continental style microscope
E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 7521. Microscope Stand 1, c.
1885
Carl Zeiss, Jena, 1344392. Monocular Telescopic
Magnifier, c. 1926 (Unkulare Fernrohrlupe, 6x15)
J. Zentmayer, Philadelphia. The American
Continental Stand V, c. 1895
E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 253025. The MOP petrological
microscope, c. 1925. For use with reflected or
transmitted polarized light
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester and New
york City, #16221. The final version of the
Professional Model microscope, c. 1894
James Swift & Son, University St. London.
Blankley's Small Pocket Microscope - The Seaside
Microscope, c. 1879
J. Zentmayer, Phila, Pat'd Aug. 15, 76. The
American Histological Binocular Microscope
R. & J.Beck, London and Philadelphia, #10679, The Improved National Binocular Microscope, c. 1882
J. Grunow, New York No. 965. Large microscope on a
double pillar with swinging substage, c. 1889
J. B. ALLEN, Springfield Mass., Early American
monocular microscope, c. 1858
Bausch & Lomb Optical. Co., Rochester N.Y. An
early and uncommon B&L microscope with screw
tube focusing, c. 1875
E. Leitz Wetzlar. Abbe type microspectroscope, c.
1900
Pritchard Type Student Microscope. English,
unsigned, c. 1850
Franz Schmidt & Haensch, Berlin. Continental
model microscope, c. 1880
I.P. Cutts,London. Gould type case-mounted
microscope,c.1835
J. Molteni à Paris. Microscope designed to be used in a horizontal or vertical configuration
Inclining drum Microscope, French c.1870