Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

 

      

Microscope 604 (James Swift; Binocular microscope for conventional and polarized light microscopy; 1870s)

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James Swift were microscope makers trading from London and founded in 1853 by James Powell Swift (at 15 Kingsland Road, London), who was son of the watchmaker Thomas Swift. Before founding his company, James Swift was apprenticed to the well-known microscope maker Andrew Ross. In 1870, the firm changed the location to 128 City Road, and in 1972 changed again to 43 University St. In 1881 they made improvements to microscope design, including the replacement of the straight rack and pinion focusing to helical cut components and a new fine focus system. In 1884, Mansell James Swift, son of James Powell, joined the company and the name was changed to James Swift & Son. In 1903, Mansell Powell John Swift, grandson of the founder, joined the company. In 1906, the founder of the company, James Powell Swift, died. In 1912, the company was incorporated as a limited company and the name changed to J. Swift Ltd. In 1942, both Mansell Powell and Mansell James died. In 1946, ER Watts and Son Ltd took over the company, mainly due to the association between the Watts and Swift families in earlier years. In 1949, they employed John H. Basset who, in 1968, took over the company. Microscope 604 is a binocular microscope for conventional and polarized light microscopy engraved with “J SWIFT, OPTICIAN, 43 University St, London WC”, probably dated to the 1870s (Figure 1). The nosepiece has a Nicol prism mounted above the Wenham prism with each residing in a sliding brass box. An achromatic substage condenser is present in this microscope (Figure 1). According to a Swift’s catalogue from the 1870s, this condenser “… is a perfect substitute, at a moderate cost, for many pieces of apparatus essential to microscopes of a superior order… It comprises an achromatic combination of 90º aperture, available with all powers up to 1/3 in., tinted glass for neutralising the yellow rays of artificial light, focussing adjustment, dark ground illuminator, large diaphragm with rotating tube to carry wheel of apertures, polarising prism with two selenite films, clear aperture, and oblique light shutter for low powers”.

Note: this instrument was kindly donated by Robert Bensted-Smith (Cambridge, England) in February 2026.

 

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Figure 1. Binocular microscope for conventional and polarized light microscopy (left) and Swift’s popular achromatic condenser (right) as engraved in a James Swift’s catalogue of the 1870s.