Offered for sale is a very rare and collectable example of a large size antique monocular brass microscope by quality English makers John Benjamin Dancer of Manchester.   The instrument isn't numbered and bears the details of its makers on the instrument's foot.  It’s quite an early example, with pre-RMS threaded objectives so therefore pre-dates 1858.  From research, I've identified this example as  a later version of a Dancer Lister-limb monocular with updated coarse focus - it's in pretty remarkable condition considering its age at around 170 years.  There’s also a library image at the very end of the listings showing a slightly earlier variant of this model, with single-sided coarse focus that's otherwise identical.  Date-wise my estimate is therefore 1855.
 
This example is also a perfectly usable instrument that’s currently set up for low to medium power applications and it’s also supplied with some interesting accessories as discussed later and shown fitted in the listing photos.  It’s actually a well-engineered, imposing and characterful instrument, suitable for both use and in the right setting as a signature display piece, with a wonderful look about it that belies its true age.  It’s endowed with some age-related patination and retains bright lacquer finishes to the majority of its surfaces.   It stands about 18 inches tall when racked out to focus a low-power objective, with the eyepiece draw-tube also extended as shown.
 

Background to J. B. Dancer (source – Microscope Museum website):

John Benjamin Dancer was a well-known Manchester optician and instrument maker, born in London in 1812, the son of Josiah Dancer, also an optician and manufacturer of optical, philosophical and nautical instruments. Josiah and his family moved from London to Liverpool in 1817. JB Dancer took over his father’s business in 1835 and continued in business in Liverpool until 1841, when he entered into partnership with A. Abraham, a scientific instrument maker of Lord Street, Liverpool. He moved to Manchester to establish a branch of the business as Abraham & Dancer at 13 Cross Street. The partnership ceased in 1845. Dancer continued in business under his own name until 1878, when part of the business was transferred to his daughters Elizabeth Eleanor and Anna Maria (he had to give up his business activities because of ill health and poor vision). The business continued trading under the name of EE Dancer & Co. until 1900, when the entire stock and the process of producing quality microphotographs were sold to the London microscope dealer Richard Suter. Dancer became well known for the quality of his microscopes and received several honours, including a prize medal at the International Exhibition in London. He was appointed Optician in Manchester to the Prince of Wales. Dancer is perhaps best known for his photographic work, in particular on microphotography and the stereoscopic camera. He took the earliest known photograph of Manchester, showing a cutler’s shop at Market Street in 1842.


In terms of the technical details, the instrument stands on a brass Y-shaped foot giving good stability, with twin slender uprights leading to the main pivot joint, which can be adjusted for tension if required.  There’s a long Lister-type upper limb giving a good range of coarse focus travel, which should allow low power objectives perhaps of around 3 to 4 inches to be used.  The instrument tilts for inclined viewing and holds in position throughout the usable range of inclination.  Coarse focus is via the older-style straight-cut rack and pinion, with smooth action and good rack with no missing teeth and the monocular tube holding in position as it should on adjustment throughout the working range.  Fine focus is controlled via a separate brass thumb-wheel towards the front of the optical tube, acting one the nose-piece only and works as it should.

With its optics, this instrument is monocular form with a brass eyepiece draw-tube that can be extended manually.  This increases the magnification - you also have to re-focus.

There’s a single top-hat eyepiece by Dancer:

– 6x magnification

There's also a second top lens for the eyepiece that can be swapped over as required.

There’s also a good pair of Dancer objective lenses in brass, as under – note the instrument is non-RMS in terms of objective thread diameter:

– 3/2 & 3/4 inch – 4x and 8x magnification approx - you unscrew the end lens
– 1/4 inch – approx 25x magnification (some internal cloudiness but still usable)
(the objectives have correct period brass canisters)

The magnification range available is therefore around 24x to 150x with the current set of optics.

The mechanical rectangular brass stage is of a novel design and is a quirky but a very well engineered feature that’s a delight to use, with nice smooth action to its moving parts.  It’s got two thumb-wheel x/y adjusters off-set at 45 degrees and located to the rear, for both axes with smooth operation.  The top-plate also has an integral specimen slider that runs in twin dovetail channels, together with a ledge for holding slide.  This works well during inclined viewing and when the axes are being moved around.  The x/y controls have a nice solid stable feel about them, requiring a little practice to master the diagonal movement and offering good accurate control of specimen positioning along with manual movement of the slider in the y-axis direction.  The top-plate also has recesses for inter alia sage forceps and the like and you'll see a set fitted in the listing photos.

Turning to the sub-stage, we have a brass ring-mount to which will fit plug-in accessories such as the fixed aperture stop that’s shown fitted in the listing photos.  There's also a swing-over arm to which fits accessories such as a dark-field stop or dark well, also as shown.  Overall, the sub-stage is surprisingly well thought out.

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, with period silvering that’s in excellent condition to both sides. 

Accessories:

- multi-adjustable bull’s-eye condenser on brass stand (lens chipped but still usable)
- spare eyepiece top lens
- stage forceps
- fixed aperture stop
- dark-field stop
- live box
- various slide preparation accessories as shown in drawer
- quantity of blank slides
- quantity of prepared slides (medical subjects) dating to around 1900 - 1910 - untested

There’s a substantial period hardwood case for the instrument, with superb exterior finish and a series of internal drawers that can accommodate the accessories and slides.  There’s a good solid brass carry-handle to the case and the lock and key are present which is always nice to have.  The case also has the Dancer paper label inside which remains in good readable condition.

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 expect for an instrument of this quality and age.  With its bright lacquer finishes and the imposing stance, it’ll make a great display piece in the right setting and is also a usable instrument.  It presents really 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 UPS or Royal Mail Special delivery within the UK, UPS insured expedited for certain overseas territories and eBay Global Shipping elsewhere.

Thanks for looking and just message seller if additional photos or details are required.