Offered for sale is a stunning example of a good size
antique brass microscope by quality makers R & J Beck of London. The instrument is numbered 19415 and
bears the details of its makers and serial number on the tripod foot. It's an example of an R & J Beck dating to 1895 according to my dating table source, in extremely fine condition considering its age at
around 130 years. From a review of the available literature and a Beck product catalogue from 1910, it identifies as a Pathological model - see final images of Beck instrument No. 17 in listing photos.
Background to Smith & Beck, Smith Beck & Beck and R & J Beck - source Microscope Museum:
Smith & Beck was originally
established in London, by Richard Beck (1827 - 1866) in association with
James Smith (1800 – 1873), and later to be joined by his brother Joseph
Beck. Richard and Joseph Beck were nephews of Joseph Jackson Lister, who
was a respected British optician and physicist who experimented with
achromatic lenses and perfected an optical microscope. In commissioning the
manufacture of his improved microscope, Lister worked with James Smith, an
employee of the instrument-making firm of William Tulley, to create the
stand. James Smith went on to establish his own optical instruments
workshop in 1837. Through this relationship, Lister arranged for his
nephew, Richard Beck to be an apprentice under Smith in 1843. In 1847,
James Smith entered into partnership with Richard Beck, and the company was
re-named Smith & Beck. In 1854, the company was renamed to Smith, Beck
and Beck, as Richard Beck's brother Joseph Beck joined the company in 1851.
James Smith retired in 1865 and the company became R & J Beck and this
name lasted for long time well into the twentieth century.
This example is a really well-engineered well-made instrument that's complete and in near-original condition as far as I can tell, perfectly suited to both use and in the right setting as a signature display piece,
with a wonderful golden glow from its almost unblemished lacquer finishes. It’s endowed
with very little age and use-related patination and just some minor lacquer losses here and there, but all totally in keeping. It stands about 18 inches
tall when fully racked out to focus a low-power 2x magnification objective as shown fitted in the listing photos, with the eyepiece
draw-tube also extended and as such it makes quite an imposing technical display piece.
In terms of the technical details, the instrument
stands on a heavy brass tripod foot with single upright leading to the
main pivot joint. There’s an upper limb with a pillar-type arrangement giving a good range of coarse focus
travel, which allows low power high working distance objectives to be
used as may be required. The instrument tilts for inclined viewing and holds in position
throughout the usable range of inclination. Coarse focus is via the newer-style diagonal-cut rack and pinion, with smooth action and good
rack with no missing teeth, with the main monocular tube holding in
position as it should on adjustment throughout its working range. For fine focus there's a graduated thumb-wheel at the rear of the stage behind the upper limb, which moves the whole upper part of the instrument, which works well and also has a nice smooth action.
With its optical arrangement, this instrument is in monocular configuration, with graduated eyepiece draw-tube - extending the draw-tube will increase
magnification – you also have to re-focus.
There’s two R & J Beck top-hat eyepieces:
- 6x magnification
- 10x magnification
There’s three objective
lenses in brass, as under – note the instrument is RMS in terms of
objective thread diameter, so plenty of other objectives should also
fit:
- 2 inches Argus by Watson - approx 2.5x magnification
- 22mm by R & J Beck - 6x magnification
- 6mm by R & J Beck - 25x magnification
The magnification range available is therefore around 15x to 250x with the current set of optics.
The brass stage has a mechanical over-stage fitted which is attached from above via two small brass thumb-screws. It's well
engineered feature that’s a delight to use, with nice smooth action to
its moving parts. It’s got exposed rack-work, with thumb-wheel x/y adjusters for both axes to the right-hand side, both with
smooth operation and usable range of movement. It also has an integral specimen holder with a sprung clip for holding slides during inclined viewing and when
the axes are being moved around, which works very well. The x/y controls have
a delicate but solid feel about them, offering good accurate control of
specimen positioning, with the y-axis also holding position as it should on inclination.
Turning to the sub-stage, we have a compound arrangement with brass ring-mount that's currently fitted with an Abbe-type condenser with smooth working iris. The mount has centering via twin thumb-screws and height adjustment via a rack & pinion system.
Lighting is via a plano-concave mirror in a brass carrier on a
height/rotation adjustable brass support arm and gimbal fitted to the limb tailpiece. The mirror silvering has some age-related dullness, but overall is in pretty good condition to both sides, with reflectivity that's perfectly adequate.
There’s the original fitted case also in excellent condition with brass carry-handle, working lock & key and an original Beck magnification chart inside the door.
The instrument and its controls have been very
gently dusted, lightly lubricated and operate smoothly with
age-appropriate signs of wear and condition points as described, very much as one would hope to find for an instrument of
this quality and age that's been well looked after throughout its life. With its gleaming lacquered finishes this instrument will make a great display piece in the
right setting and is also a perfectly usable instrument, currently set up for low and medium power applications. It presents exceptionally well and I’m certain it will look the part in a library or home office,
especially when set up with an appropriate antique slide.
Owing to the weight and delicacy of this antique microscope, it will
be partially dismantled, carefully wrapped for shipping and dispatched
by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. UK shipping will be by Royal Mail Special Delivery in view of the required insurance value of the consignment.
Thanks for looking and just message seller if any additional photos or details of condition are required.