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

new and recently modified pages NEW

click on the photos 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 Euston 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

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

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. 6087, 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

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 or entomological microscope mounted on a sharkskin covered 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 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.1848

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.

Signed: Jno Ehrmann, Maker, 1905. A microscope made by an unrecognized maker

E. Leitz, New York. Serial # 53059. Leitz Travelling Microscope c. 1899

George L. Gowlland, Cambridge Mass. (attributed). Monocular Microscope, c. 1890

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

L. Schrauer, Maker, New York. Prize Microscope Awarded to Frank Caudkins Bunn, M.D., 1889

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

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester NY. An early version of the Investigator model microscope, c. 1880

Secretan à Paris. Solar microscope, c. 1865

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 microscope. Attributed to Noël Buron, Paris, c.1844

Signed: Made for McAllister & Co., Philadelphia. Imported smaller case-mounted microscope, Attributed to Noël Buron, Paris, c.1844

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

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. N.Y., # 36575. Bausch & Lomb Petrographical Microscope. Stand LC, c. 1902

Dollond London. Chest microscope, c.1825

L. Schrauer, Maker, New York. Large continental style microscope, c. 1880

Powell & Lealand, 4 Seymour Place, Euston Square, London. Monocular microscope dated 1850.

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.1871

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

J. Zentmayer, Phila, Pat'd Aug. 15, 76. The American Histological Binocular Microscope

James Swift & Son, University St. London. Blankley's Small Pocket Microscope - The Seaside Microscope, c. 1879

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 microspectroscope, c. 1900

Pritchard Type Student Microscope. English, unsigned, c. 1840

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.1850

Carl Zeiss, Jena, No 76536. The 1SB Metallurgical Microscope, c. 1920

C. Zeiss, Jena, 7324. Microscope model Va, c. 1884

Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. The Harvard Model with inclination and rack and pinion, c. 1888

R. Fuess, Berlin, No. 290 . Petrological and Crystallographic Microscope, c. 1885. Model No.1

E. Leitz, Wetzlar; serial # 63056. Small Travelling Microscope, c. 1902

Schieck in Berlin, No. 1402. Small Model Microscope, c. 1865

W. & S. Jones Holborn, London. Improved Botanical, or Universal, Pocket Microscope. c. 1800

Leopold Schrauer, New York (attributed). The microscope is unsigned, c. 1880

Cary, London (attributed). Folding Cary-Gould pocket microscope, c.1828

Ed. Messter, Berlin N. W., Universal Bacteria Microscope, c.1900

J. Zentmayer, Maker, Philadelphia, # 1089. The "Grand American Model" with monocular and binocular tubes, c. 1874

R. Fuess, Berlin - Steglitz, #1550. Model IIIa petrological microscope, c.1908

Queen & Co., Philadelphia/Charles Baker, London. The "Tourist" portable model microscope, c. 1890

John Browning, London (attributed). Sorby-Browning Microspectroscope with Bright-line Micrometer, c. 1880

M. Pillischer, London, Manufacturer # 3456. The International Microscope, c. 1885

W. Watson & Sons 313 High Holborn, London #2338. The Jackson Model No. 3, c. 1889

R. Fuess, Berlin - Steglitz, No. 532. Model III petrological microscope, c.1895

Benj. Pike's Son & Co., 930 Broadway N. Y., The “Professional Microscope” c. 1880

Antique Brass Microscopes Wanted