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Compound, Simple & Solar Microscope with Case and Accessories, by Francis Watkins, London, 1754

Inventory Number 53619

Subject
Microscopy
Item type
Object
Provenance
Lent by the Royal Microscopical Society. Presented to the RMS by Sir David Salomons, Bart, 1919 (see note with instrument). .
Primary inscriptions
"Fra Watkins London" (on limb); "Fra Watkins Charing Cross London" (on solar plate). Silver parts stamped with London Assay Office marks and year letter for 1754; maker's mark: "R.R.".
Object type
Microscope
Dimensions
Height: 131mm
Inventory No
53619
Accession Number
1970-101/part

Description

This remarkable compendium, made in hall-marked silver, was fully described by Francis Watkins in a 98 page book, published in French, 1754. It consists of a compound microscope, with six objectives, which can also function as a simple microscope. Also a solar microscope in three sections, the plate, the mirror housing and the barrel. Accessories include: a Lieberkuhn and eleven/twelve ivory sliders and two silver sliders, one of which is a hinged pair of sliders with four windows each, in a silver case. The Silver and unmarked ivory sliders contain no specimens. The outfit packs into a mahogany box, lined with green felt.

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