Vintage Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Binocular Microscope, PZO Objective Lenses c1950s

  
Here is a great vintage example of an Ernst Leitz Wetzlar binocular microscope in black enamel finish dating from the 1940s/50s with a lovely patina. The condition of this example is pretty good suggesting it's been used carefully by former custodians, with some evidence of wear to the paint finish on the frame where the instrument has been handled over the years. Turning to the main technical details of this binocular microscope, we have the following. 1 A binocular eyepiece unit with twin 8x magnification vintage Leitz Periplan eyepieces that give a nice bright image. The binocular unit has a quick-release mechanism and eyepiece separation can be adjusted manually via a central thumb-wheel with graduation markers. The left hand eyepiece tube can also be focused. 2 The instrument's main coarse focus and fine focus are by sets of thumb-wheels located on the upper frame which move the main optical tube assembly via a rack & pinion arrangement for coarse focus and a vernier/cam arrangement for fine focus. Both mechanisms have been inspected and tightened/lubricated, so that focus travel remains very good offering a fine degree of smooth focus control for both coarse and fine mechanisms. The frame on this model of microscope also tilts to allow inclined viewing holding in position as it should. 3 The instrument has just recently been upgraded with a set of four good quality objective lenses all by PZO that compliment the model very well, as follows. Magnification/numerical aperture, tube length/coverslip, serial number. 40/0.65, 160/0.17, 60402 - sprung tip. 100/1.3 OI, 160/0.17, 47401 - sprung tip. The objective lenses supplied therefore provide an effective magnification range from around 40x up to 800x magnification when using the PZO 100x lens with oil immersion techniques. 4 A fully mechanical stage which is also by Leitz with twin thumb-wheel x-axis and y-axis controls on separate drop-down adjusters located on the left side of the stage that are really easy to use with no obvious wear to the rack and pinion gearing - the y-axis also has a locking mechanism via a knurled collar mechanism in order to prevent slippage on inclination. It's also fitted with an adjustable double slide holder mechanism for holding slides in place during viewing sessions. The slide holders fit into a dovetail groove in the stage and are tightened into position with small thumb-screws - a system which works very well. There are no significant signs of wear to the black paint finish on the stage surface.

5 Below stage there's a condenser by Leitz which has a swing-over lens feature, centering via twin thumb-screws, a lever-operated iris and a second twist iris for controlling lighting levels with a rack and pinion system to adjust the height. The swing-over lens is usually moved out of the way when low-power objectives are being used.

6 Lighting is provided by a sub-stage plano-concave mirror on an adjustable gimbal with good silvering to both sides. In summary, this is a nice clean vintage and pretty well equipped example of a period Leitz binocular microscope in good original condition with just the right amount of aged patina for a post-war instrument.

This example may therefore appeal to collectors as well as specialists seeking a quality instrument with nice bright binocular set-up with no colimation issues. It's also extremely good value for a such a quality vintage instrument from well-known makers Leitz.

This is also quite a large and heavy microscope, so owing to its weight it will be partially dismantled, very well packed and dispatched by insured courier upon receipt of cleared funds. Thanks for looking - please check out my other listings if you get a chance. The item "Vintage Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Binocular Microscope, PZO Objective Lenses c1950s" is in sale since Wednesday, August 18, 2021. This item is in the category "Antiques\Science/Medicine\Scientific Instruments".

The seller is "arcboutant" and is located in Glasgow. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Antigua and barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, United States, Bahrain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Barbados, Brunei darussalam, Cayman islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Grenada, French guiana, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Macao, Monaco, Maldives, Montserrat, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Reunion, Turks and caicos islands, Aruba, Saudi arabia, South africa, United arab emirates, Ukraine, Chile, Bahamas, Colombia, Costa rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Trinidad and tobago, Uruguay, Viet nam.

1. Period: 1951 to Present
2. Material: Steel
3. Type: Microscope
4. Antique: Yes