PRIOR & CO.

Prior Scientific Instruments Ltd.

W.R. Prior & Co Ltd was founded in 1919, and produced optical microscopes. During World War 2, they produced military instruments. Their London premises were damaged during the bombing, and they moved away to Bishops Stortford.

After the war, they resumed microscope manufacturing, and broadened their range to include accessories such as light sources. During the 1960s, they went into the customization of microscopes, beginning with a combined cell culture chamber, microscope and camera for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. They became Prior Scientific Instruments Ltd in 1979. The company headquarters is now near Cambridge. As well as a wide range of optical and electronic microscopes, they also produce other scientific electronics and measuring equipment.