'No 4 VAN HEURCK STAND STAND B':
Signed: W. WATSON & SONS, 313 High Holborn, LONDON
Serial number: 3795
c. 1897
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DESCRIPTION:
This is an example of the 'No 4 Van Heurck B', (later called the 'Van Heurck No 1'), microscope from about 1897. This example has the tripod foot, rather than the continental foot. It has controls for centering the substage. The spread of the foot, from outer edge to outer edge is 220 mm or about 8.7 inches.
The basic model was offered in 1896 for 18 10. But the catalog entry mentions several optional features. This example also has most of the optional features added. These include geared stage rotation, calibrations to stage rotation, geared substage rotation, calibrations for the mechanical stage, and centering for the stage. All of these additions would have increased the price by about one third, excluding objectives and condenser which would be additional. One eyepiece came standard.
This example has a low power condenser, shown to the left, with iris diaphragm and a swing-out holder for darkfield stops or filters. It may have also been supplied with a slip-on top for higher power work, but this example is lacking that part. A similar unsigned condenser is found with the Grand van Heurck in this collection. It is also similar to the Powell & Lealand 'Low Power Achromatic Condenser' as seen to the right.
HISTORY OF THE No 4 VAN HEURCK B STAND:
Famous diatomist and author Henry Van Heurck first suggested the stand that bears his name in 1889 and it was shown on the frontispiece of the 9th edition of the Watson catalog of that year, though no listing for it was in the text of the catalog. It is clearly derived from the earlier Edinburgh stand by Watson. From 1889 to 1893 only the 'No 4 Van Heurk A' model was offered but starting in 1893, a 'No 4 Van Heurck B' was also offered. Standard was the continental foot, but it could also be ordered with the English Tripod foot. It featured a larger diameter optical tube and the addition of a rack and pinion control to the draw tube. By 1896, the 'A' stand was no longer offered in the catalog, but the designation 'B' was still used until about 1900, when it was redisignated the Van Heurck No. 1. model. For more about the history of Van Heurck microscopes please see the Van Heurk History Page.
