Vintage Scientific Capillator in original box 1952

A lovely vintage Capillator kit manufactured by The British Drug Houses Ltd (BDH), dating from around 1952. The Capillator was a compact clinical and laboratory testing instrument used to measure the acidity or alkalinity (pH) of liquids via colour matching — a simple, elegant method that predates electronic pH meters in everyday lab use. A fascinating piece of mid-century British scientific instrument making, complete in its original packaging.

Condition

• Completeness: Complete — contains the micro capillaries, a bottle of thymol blue indicator solution, and caps, all in the original box.
• Box: Good condition for age with some wear and tear — areas of colour loss on edges and a torn corner, consistent with 70+ years of storage.
• Contents: Good condition for age. Please refer to the photos for full detail.

Provenance

• Maker: The British Drug Houses Ltd (BDH) — founded in 1908 and based in London, BDH was one of Britain's foremost suppliers of laboratory chemicals, reagents, and scientific instruments to hospitals, universities, and industry. The BDH name is well known and respected among collectors of vintage scientific equipment.
• Item: Capillator pH testing kit — uses micro capillary tubes and thymol blue, a pH indicator dye that changes colour across the pH range, allowing the user to determine acidity or alkalinity by visual colour comparison.
• Date: c.1952.
• Significance: A complete, boxed example of a mid-century laboratory instrument — rare to find intact and in original packaging. An excellent piece for collectors of scientific instruments or vintage laboratory equipment.