Beschreibung:

A German black japanned and lacquered brass compound binocular microscope E. Leitz, Wetzlar, circa 1920 The tube with twin eyepiece assembly, rack and pinion coarse and fine screw focus adjustment and signed E. Leitz, Wetzlar, No. 191723 to front above triple nosepiece, the circular stage fitted with X and Y screw adjusting Vernier slide clips onto a rotating table, the underside with sub-stage condenser and pivoted plano-concave mirror, the limb pivoted via locking axis support behind the stage, on ‘U’ shaped foot, in original wooden box with additional objective lens canisters, two pairs of eyepiece lenses and a small quantity of other accessories, the inside of the door with applied trade label for OGILVY & COMPANY, 18 Bloomsbury St. LONDON, W.C. 1., the box 38cm (15ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The Maurice Gillett collection of microscopy, inventory ref. G3316. The origins of the firm Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar can be traced back to 1849 when an Optical Institute was established by Carl Kellner. In 1855 Kellner died passing the responsibility of the Institute to Friedrich Behltle, an apprentice of Kellner's who married his widow. In 1863 Ernst Leitz joined the institute and by 1865 was a full partner. Upon the death of Behltle, Leitz became the sole owner of the company which was renamed E. Leitz, Wetzlar. By the start of the 20th century Leitz had become highly regarded as one of the premier manufacturers of high quality microscopes and other optical instruments. In around 1915 the firm moved into camera production launching the famous Leica brand whilst still continuing to produce microscopes and other laboratory optical instruments. The firm is still in business operating as manufacturers of high quality cameras. Condition report disclaimer