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.

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 dated 1908

Items of interest about antique microscopes and other instruments:

Site Index

A Victorian Lady and Her Microscope

The Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.s Professional Model Microscopes. 1876-1896

Some Early Microscopes from the Optical Institute in Wetzlar

The Prize Microscopes Awarded by the New York Homeopathic Medical College. 1874-1916

Index of Microscopes and Accessories for the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society. 1878-1907

Microscope-Related United States Patents: 1853-1915

Chemistry Related Antique Optical Instruments

Links to other antique microscope collections and sites of interest

Antique Microscopes on Facebook

Do I sell microscopes from this collection?

The Harley binocular microscope. Collins London, 1883

Binocular microscope: J.B. Dancer Optician No. 371 Manchester

Wenham binocular microscope: Watson and Son 313 High Holborn London #912, The Jackson No. 2 Model, c. 1880

Binocular microscope: H.&W. Crouch 64a Bishopsgate Street, London. serial no. 306, c. 1865

Some of the accessories supplied with the above H&W Crouch binocular microscope No. 306

left: Carpenter type Improved microscope: The New Improved Compound Microscope for Opake and Transparent Objects; right: Porter and Hunt, London case-mounted microscope. Both c.1830.

Microscope with polarizing attachments: Stativ I, Carl Zeiss, Jena, 1351 / 2259. c. 1874

Monocular microscope: W. Ladd Beak St. Regent St. W. c. 1865

E. Leitz Wetslar, No. 6260 Stativ IV c. 1883

Wenham binocular microscope: Charles G. Ewing San Francisco c. 1870

Petrological microscope: E. Leitz Wetzlar No.25280; Mineralogical Stand I, c. 1892

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

C. Baker 244 High Holborn London #6389. The R.M.S. 1.27 model microscope c.1911

Petrological microscope: R. Fuess Berlin #131. The Rosenbusch model c.1878

J. Swift and Son London W. patent 24960. Portable Histological microscope.

Pocket microscopes. From left to right: Swift-Brown, c. 1880; Ross field hand microscope, c. 1870; Pillischer's Lenticular, c. 1850.

McIntosh Battery and Optical Co., Chicago, # 458. The Scientific Microscope No. 1, c. 1890

left: botanical microscope Dollond London c.1830 right: an Ellis aquatic microscope c.1775.

E. Hartnack and A. Prazmowski, #13936 c.1875.

A. Ross London, #443 , dissecting microscope c.1851

Jno Ehrmann, Maker, 1905

Petrological microscope, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar No.221090, CM model, c. 1923

Microscope made by Charles Chevalier, c. 1855

Portable microscope: John Browning London #419, c. 1875

Swift & Son 81 Tottenham Court Rd London W.C. The "Challenge" binocular microscope

Grunow, New York

Monocular microscope with polarizing attachments: E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 6097, Stativ Nr. 1b , c.1884

McIntosh Battery &Optical Co., Chicago # 397. The New Clinical Microscope No. 2, c. 1880

Nuremberg Culpeper style microscope. c. 1800 signed IM.

T. H. McAllister, N.Y. The Student's Microscope, c. 1876

Two Culpeper style microscopes. left: unsigned right: Adams, London, c. 1790-1800

Deleuil, Raspail Simple Chemical Microscope, c. 1835

Continental microscope: Carl Zeiss Jena, No. 8223. The Ia model, c. 1885

A group of French microscopes c.1860. Unsigned, but each apparently made by the same manufacturer

Aquarium microscope: Highley, London

Solar microscope with screw barrel, c. 1750

Portable travelling microscope: Nachet, 17 rue St. Severin, Paris. c. 1880

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

A set of injected preparations by the Austrian anatomist Josef Hyrtl. c. 1850

Carl Zeiss, Jena. No. 28495. The IVa model microscope. c. 1897

Bate London. Small Most Improved model microscope c. 1825

Smith Beck & Beck, London #3114. The Universal Model Binocular Microscope c. 1862

Geo. Wale, Pat. App. for. The New Working MIcroscope, c. 1880

F.W. Schieck Berlin S.W. No. 7982. Continental 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

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. 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

Botanical-Entomological Microscope. "The School Microscope", c.1880

Horne Thornthwaite & Wood, 123 Newgate St. London. Stage-focusing microscope, c.1850

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

Two examples of the R.B. Tolles Student Microscope. Left: Boston Optical Works, Tolles, #159. Right: Tolles, Boston #290. c. 1870 and 1874, respectively.

J. & W. Grunow #594 Binocular microscope c. 1874

Hartnack's Drawing Apparatus. The Embryograph of Wilhelm His, c. 1881

Charles A. Spencer's Trunnion Model Microscope c. 1855

Two versions of the Bausch & Lomb Optical. Co. "Physician's" model microscope. Pat. Oct. 3, 1876. right: #2188, c. 1883; left: #1078, c. 1879

Monocular microscope made by Charles A. Spencer. Pritchard type c. 1860

Made by Jos. Zentmayer, Philad, serial No. 14. The Grand American model, c. 1860

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, 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

Field or Pocket Microscope marked "Junior", c. 1925. Made by Spindler & Hoyer, Göttingen

E. Leitz, Wetzlar. Large preparation (dissecting) microscope with erecting prism. Model W, c. 1925

G.Oberhaeuser, Place Dauphine, Paris. #1812. Small Drum microscope, c. 1850

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Pat. Oct. 3, 1876, Serial number 3340, The Universal model microscope with a nickel plated surface finish, c. 1885

E. Leitz Wetzlar, 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, c. 1840

A. Ross, London #599. Large Bar-limb Microscope by Andrew Ross, c. 1855

Both signed: Made for McAllister & Co., Philadelphia. Imported case-mounted French microscopes, c.1844. Attributed to the Parisian optician Buron.

J. Swift & Son, London, #14790. The Advanced Student's Petrological Microscope, c. 1908

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

Dollond London. Gould type chest microscope, c.1830

Two version of the Bausch & Lomb Harvard Model microscope. Left: No. 5598, non-inclinable. Right: No. 3729, inclinable. c. 1888 and 1885, respectively.

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

A Most Improved type microscope with advanced features. An early achromatic (and non-achromatic) transitional microscope, c. 1830

R. & J. Beck, 31 Cornhill, London, #5703. The Large Best model binocular microscope. c.1871

Plössl in Wien. Non-inclining Large Microscope, c. 1845

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 Demonstrating Microscope, c. 1885

W. H. Bulloch, Chicago, Pat. 1879, #260. The No. 1 Professional Binocular Microscope. c.1883

Wilson screw barrel microscope signed: Culpeper Fecit, c. 1720

Portrait in oil of Jakob Vimpel in his laboratory at the Carlsberg Breweries. Danish, first quarter of the 20th century.

T. H. McAllister, N. Y. The Physician' Model Microscope, c.1880

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester and New york City, #16221. The final version of the Professional Model microscope, c. 1894

Compound and Simple Microscope on a folding tripod base. English, unsigned. c.1815

R. & J. Beck, 31 Cornhill, London, #6251. The Large Best Portable Binocular Microscope, c.1872

C. Zeiss, Jena 4969. Microscope model V^a, c. 1880

Pillischer, London # 5692. "The Kosmos" model microscope, c.1895

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

E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 7521. Microscope Stand 1, c. 1885

J. Zentmayer, Philadelphia. The American Continental Stand V, c. 1895

E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 253025. The MOP model petrological microscope, c. 1925. For use with reflected or transmitted polarized light

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

Charles A. Spencer (Spencer & Eaton). The Large Trunnion Model microscope with lever activated stage, c. 1859

R.& J.Beck, London and Philadelphia, #10679, The "Improved National" Binocular Microscope, c. 1882

Pritchard Type Student Microscope. English, unsigned, c. 1850

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

 J. Grunow, New York No. 965. Large microscope on a double pillar with swinging substage, c. 1889

Carl Zeiss, Jena, 1344392. Monocular Telescopic Magnifier, c. 1926 (Unkulare Fernrohrlupe, 6x15)

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