Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company
Panton Street, Cambridge. (1881-1882)
St. Tibbs Row (or St. Tibb's Row), Cambridge. (1882-1895)
Carlyle Road (sometimes cited as Chesterton Road), Cambridge. (1895-1919)

Cambridge and Paul Instrument Company Ltd.
Carlyle Road, Cambridge (head office); additional site at Muswell Hill (formerly R.W. Paul Instrument Co), London. (1919-1924)

Cambridge Instrument Company Ltd (under George Kent, later Brown Boveri, then SMI, then NEB, etc.)
Various addresses (including former sites and new offices as divisions were sold off; manufacturing at Newton Avenue and Sydney Street, Muswell Hill, London until 1975) 1968–1980s (dormant by late 1980s, dissolved 2021)

The Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company was founded in 1881 by Horace Darwin and Albert George Dew-Smith to manufacture precision instruments for Cambridge University, growing through mergers and innovation to become a leading British scientific instrument firm. After expanding its product lines and undergoing several name changes and acquisitions, the company was absorbed by George Kent in 1968, eventually dissolved in 2021 after more than a century of operation.

Founding and Early Development
The Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company traces its roots to a small workshop established in the late 1870s by Robert Fulcher, originally to service instruments for the Cambridge physiology department. The venture was financially supported by Albert George Dew-Smith, a friend of Horace Darwin, who had recently returned to Cambridge after an engineering apprenticeship. By 1881, Fulcher had left, and Horace Darwin and Dew-Smith took over, officially founding the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Co. [2][3].

Horace Darwin (1851–1928), the youngest son of Charles Darwin, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and trained as an engineer at Easton and Anderson in Kent. His technical skill and scientific curiosity made him a natural designer of precision instruments [1][2][3]. Dew-Smith, an engineer and instrument maker, provided both business acumen and financial backing [2][3].

The company’s early premises were in Panton Street, moving to St Tibbs Row in 1882, and later to Carlyle Road in 1895 as demand grew [3]. In 1891, Darwin became the sole owner after Dew-Smith retired [2][3]. The company became a limited liability company in 1895 [3].

Growth and Innovation
Under Horace Darwin’s leadership, the company became known for its innovative and reliable scientific instruments. Notable products included:

• Darwin Rocker (Rocking Microtome): Designed in the early 1880s, this instrument was widely used in biological laboratories and remained in production until the 1970s [2][3].
• Seismographs and Extensometers: The company manufactured Prof. J.A. Ewing’s seismograph (1891) and Darwin’s crack extensometers for monitoring structural integrity in buildings like St. Paul’s Cathedral (1910) [3].
• Other Instruments: The company produced a wide range of devices for laboratory and industrial use, including micrometers for studying earthworm behavior [2].

During World War I, the company expanded its workforce from about 40 in 1896 to 488 by 1918, supporting the war effort by manufacturing instruments previously sourced from Germany [3]. Horace Darwin was knighted in 1918 for his contributions to the Munitions Inventions Panel [3][4].

Expansion, Acquisitions, and Name Changes

• 1919: The company acquired Robert W. Paul’s instrument business, leading to the name The Cambridge and Paul Instrument Company [2].
• 1924: The company became a public limited company and was renamed the Cambridge Instrument Company Ltd [2].
• 1928: Upon Horace Darwin’s death, his nephew, Charles G. Darwin, became chairman. Robert Whipple, who had joined as Darwin’s assistant in 1898, became managing director and later chairman [2].
• Employee Legacy: Notable employees included William G. Pye, who left in 1898 to found the W.G. Pye Instrument Company, and Robert Whipple, whose instrument collection formed the basis of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science in 1944 [2].

Mid-20th Century Innovations and Challenges

• World War II and Beyond: The company continued to supply instruments for both academic and industrial applications, adapting to new technological needs.
• 1965: The company produced the Stereoscan MK1, the first commercial scanning electron microscope, marking a significant milestone in scientific instrumentation [5].
• Financial Difficulties: From the 1960s, the company faced increasing financial pressures and competition.
• 1968: Cambridge Instrument Company was acquired by George Kent Limited, which reorganised it into several divisions, ending its original independent structure [2].

Later Years and Legacy

• 1970s–1980s: The Cambridge Instruments brand continued under various owners, including Brown Boveri after 1974. The company underwent several reorganisations, a government bailout in 1976, and eventually became a dormant holding company by the late 1980s [2].
• Dissolution: After multiple mergers and ownership changes, Cambridge Instruments was dissolved in 2021 [2].
• Cultural Impact: The company is remembered as a pioneer in scientific instrumentation and a cornerstone of the “Cambridge Phenomenon,” the region’s emergence as a global centre for technology and innovation [3][5]. Its history is preserved in archives and museum displays, such as the Cambridge Museum of Technology [5].

Notable Figures and Family Connections

Horace Darwin: Founder, engineer, and innovator; elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1903; Mayor of Cambridge 1896–97 [1][3][4].

Albert George Dew-Smith: Co-founder and early financial backer [2][3].

Robert Whipple: Longtime employee and later chairman; his collection became the Whipple Museum [2].

William G. Pye: Former foreman, founder of the Pye Group [2].

Erasmus Darwin Barlow: Horace’s grandson, later chairman of the company [2].

Summary Table:

Legacy
The Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company is celebrated for its pioneering role in scientific instrumentation, its impact on the local economy, and its influence on the broader “Cambridge Phenomenon.” Its story is a testament to innovation, adaptability, and the enduring legacy of scientific enterprise in Cambridge.

[1] Cambridge University Library Archives
[2] Grace's Guide to British Industrial History
[3] Cambridge University Digital Library
[4] Wikipedia: Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company
[5] Etherwave Blog: Primer on the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company;
[6] Science Museum Group
[7] Capturing Cambridge
[8] Stapleford History Society