Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

Microscope 143 (Arnold & Sons; University microscope; c. 1880)

James Arnold began his career as an instrument maker in London in 1829. By 1841, the company (at 35 Smithfield) was known as James & John Arnold, surgeon’s instrument makers. In 1857, the name of the company changed to James Arnold & Sons. In their illustrated catalogue in 1873 they were listed as instrument makers by appointment to Her Majesty’s Government, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, The Great Northern Hospital, The Royal Veterinary College and The Seamen’s Hospital. By 1882, they had greatly expanded their range of products. The company held premises on 31 West Smithfield and 1-3 and 15-16 Giltspur Street, London, as well as showrooms at 50 - 60 Wigmore Street, London. In the 1920s, they were incorporated into John Bell & Croydon Ltd and in 1928 the company was bought by Savory & Moore, a chemist company known for producing American dentifrice, tooth powders, medicines, and perfumes that had three shops in London and one in Brighton. In 1953, the company was renamed it Arnold & Sons Veterinary Instruments Ltd in London and Arnold & Sons Basildon Ltd in Essex. The name changed again in 1985, when the company became Arnold Surgical Ltd. It was dissolved in 2004. Microscope 143 is engraved with ‘Arnold & Sons, West Smithfield, London’ and should be dated to c. 1880. This instrument was identified as the ‘University’ microscope in the firm’s 1873 catalogue (Figure 1) and appeared in other catalogues of the firm until 1886.

Figure 1. Arnold & Sons ‘University’ microscope as engraved in the firm’s 1873 catalogue.

References

Arnold (http://stichtinghistorischemicroscopie.nl/en/category/arnold-en/), last accessed on 28/10/2020.

LAST EDITED: 28.10.2020