Rare Antique 19th Century James Swift & Son Microscope

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Rare Antique 19th Century James Swift & Son Microscope

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Sold Date: 06/24/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fine Art

Estate Clearence

Description: This is a Antique and very rare 19th Century microscope by James Swift & Son.is signed, "James Swift, 43 University St., London W.C." on the base, and dates to circa 1878s.

The London optician James Swift, who claimed to have worked for Andrew Ross, established his business in the late 1850s. He was in partnership with his son,James Mansell Swift, and the firm, known for its quality instruments, remained in business until the next century. They operated at 43 University Street from about 1872 to 1881, and then they moved 81 Tottenham Court Road.

The skilled British optical instrument makers at James Swift and Son designed the stunning, brass binocular microscope based on two Greenough-style stereoscopic tubes, each equipped with an objective and an eyepiece. Like other microscopes with similar optical configurations, the erect image of the specimen appears to be three-dimensional, but is inverted by 180 degrees. Enameled in black, the stand is a typical Swift combination upright and tripod base with flanges. The curved limb, which is fitted with grooves, moves in the flanges and is held in position with a large, milled-head brass screw, while the upper part of the limb forms an arm that has a double, milled-head pinion. At 3.75-square inches, the brass fixed stage is attached to the limb and includes a slide holder and a micrometer. The Swift binocular microscope is 10 1/2 inches high in its closed position, which makes it more convenient for storage and transport.

On the instrument illustrated above, the complete substage is mounted on a bar with a rack and pinion mechanism. A tubular bar, designed with a swinging motion and a sliding case and arm, suspends the gimbal-mounted, 2-inch double mirror below the substage. For coarse focusing, the 8-inch, dual brass body tubes feature a rack and pinion mechanism, which move in relation to the fixed stage. In order to achieve fine focus, a brass screw on the left side of the arm is employed (not illustrated). In the lower section of each Greenough stereoscopic tube, t is a prism box that is tipped by a cone-shaped nose. At the rear of each brass drawtube is another rack and pinion mechanism for controlled adjustments of the magnification by the microscopist.

The Microscope is in good condition .Measures of the Microscope is 10 1/2" high by 6" wide by 16 1/2" long. Please take a look at the pictures for more details.

Please view the other items I have for auction on ebay.Good luck!!!

Hi my name is Doris and for the past 20 years. I am collecting beautiful antiques and decorative arts from garage sales,flea markets,shows ,and auction houses from around the world.i have such a big collection that if ill start dusting it off it will take another 20 years.I been following ebay for the last 2 years and was very disappointed of what people call art so if you are a serious collector or an antique or just somebody that love beauty and quality bookmark my page and visit it everyday.I will start my auctions at no reserve and will describe my items to the best of my knowledge.

Shipping:I will ship the merchandise the next day after payment is received.checks or money order have to be cleared first before shipment.

Terms and conditions: All sales are finals so please view very carefully my photographs and read my description for sizes and condition report. No second chance offer i will release it.

So Bid With Confidence
Thanks Doris