EDINBURGH MODEL H MICROSCOPE and THE ROYAL, COMPARED:

Maker: W. WATSON & SONS LTD.

It is a common misconception that the Royal model is larger than the Edinburgh H. In fact, the Edinburgh was the inspiration for both the Van Heurck and the Royal. Furthermore, the Royal was created to satisfy a need for a microscope the same size, or even smaller than the 'H' but with some of the most desired features of the Van Heurck. As can be seen in the following images of engravings and also my actual examples, these stands are virtually identical in size and construction, except for the fact that the Royal has a wider optical tube with two draw tubes instead of the single draw in the 'H.'   The rack and pinion control to the outer draw tube of the Royal was the primary feature of the Van Heurck it was to duplicate; the substage fine adjustment was optional. Close inspection of these side-by-side images illustrates both the illusion of a difference in size, and the fact that other than the optical tube, the two are identical in size.