Antique Reichert Microscope. With Case. Austria, 1927

Fine antique Reichert microscope made in Austria in 1927, with solid wooden case and in perfect working order. The microscope is a remarkably attractive piece for its complete equipment and amazing condition. It mounts a three-lens revolving nosepiece and comes with a set of two eyepieces and three lenses, all of them finely preserved and made by Carl Reicherts company too. The microscope mounts a black-enameled cast-iron horseshoe foot with a mechanism composed of brass component parts. The enamel is in great condition and looks shiny and even, with no traces of wear. As for the brass, it still preserves the ancient transparent protecting lacquer which provides it with a beautiful patina. At the back of the microscopes foot we can see the brand name (C. REICHERT WIEN) and the serial number Nº71395 engraved in the metal surface. The stage with micrometrical-adjustment system also bears the engraved manufacturers name with another serial, Nº5019. The name is also engraved at the turret, the eyepieces and the lenses, and printed on the specification sheet included inside the case. The case itself is made of light-colored solid mahogany wood and keeps the original lock-and-key set in fine working order. Every lover of classic microscopes will find a real jewel in this antique Reichert microscope, similar to those used by Ramon y Cajal and in excellent condition. Measurements: Height: 14.4 in / 36 cm. History of Reichert The Reichert company was founded by Carl Reichert in 1876 in Vienna. Carl Reichert was a son in law of Ernst Leitz. He learned microscopy business from Leitz in Wetzlar (Germany) and then moved to Vienna to establish his own company. His company was successful and by 1930 the 100000th microscope was produced. However in 1962, the family Reichert sold the business to the company American Optical (AO). American Optical, in turn, was taken over in 1968 by the worldwide pharmaceutical company Warner Lambert. Later, within Warner Lambert, Reichert company was merged with Jung, another microscopy company established by Rudolf Jung in Heidelberg in 1872. In 1986 Warner Lambert sold all non-pharmaceutical companies to Cambridge Instruments (the optical company established in 1881 by the son of Charles Darwin, Horace). And finally, in 1990 Cambridge Instruments merged with the Wild Leitz to form Leica group. In 1999 Reichert stopped microscope production, concentrating to instruments for sample preparations for transmission electron microscopy.