An Early James Smith Microscope

An Early James Smith Microscope, English, dated from the Beck records 25th August 1846, signed to the base ‘Jas Smith LONDON, 133’, on reversed ‘Y’ shaped base with uprights supporting the body on trunnions, plano-concave mirror in a gimbal on a sliding collar, with slide in/out substage collar, with a ‘White Universal Lever stage’ with large control rod, a triangular bar with course focusing to the rear, bar limb with fine focus control, body tube with two uprights, bodytube with single drawer tube, mahogany case with glazed door, cabinet contains; A 1in objective in a can engraved ‘James Smith Lathe Smith & Beck, 56 Tollington Road London N’. An empty 2in objective can engraved ‘James Smith Lathe Smith & Beck, 56 Tollington Road London N’. A 1/12in objective in a can engraved ‘A. Rofs London’. Two later objectives in cans. A live box. A selection of later amateur microscope slides. Note: the Beck records show that the original purchaser of the microscope was William Watson Hewitson (c1814-1863), from his obituary in 1864 :William Watson Hewitson was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1815; and after serving his time at Messrs. Robert Stephenson and Co.'s works in that town he was for some time in the locomotive shops of Messrs. Fenton Murray and Jackson at Leeds. From thence he went to the locomotive works of Messrs. Kitson and Co. at Leeds, taking the position of manager and principal draughtsman; and in 1842 he became a member of that firm, and continued so until his death on 7th May 1863 at the age of forty-eight. He had made the locomotive engine his special study from his first connection with business ; and during the last two years of his life rendered material assistance in the development of the system of steam ploughing, in connection with Mr. John Fowler. He was a Member of the Institution from 1848.