COIL S449 Plasta Major Magnifier, c.1950s

A COIL S449 Plasta Major Magnifier, offering a glimpse into the practical design and changing materials of mid-20th-century Britain.

The magnifier was made by Combined Optical Industries Ltd. (COIL), a British optical manufacturer based on Bath Road in Slough, which produced a range of optical instruments and equipment. This example reflects the functional approach to design found in British optical tools of the period.

Its form is slightly utilitarian, yet pleasingly simple, with little unnecessary decoration. The ivory-toned rim flows into a softly rounded handle, giving it a comfortable and natural grip in the hand. Although designed as a practical tool, its warm colouring and gentle form give it the character of a small design object.

The handle is marked ‘Made in England’ on the inside, while the COIL mark is printed along the top of the lens rim. The magnifier itself remains in exceptionally good vintage condition, appearing to have seen very little use, and the lens is clean with no noticeable scratches. The original box, by contrast, shows age-related wear and damage.

Still fully usable as a magnifying glass, it would sit naturally on a desk or in a study, equally at home as a functional object or a piece of mid-century British design.

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𓉞 T.C.C Notes
All antique and vintage objects carry natural signs of age and use accumulated over time. These traces are part of the individual character and beauty of each piece.

The magnifier itself remains in very good vintage condition, with no noticeable scratches to the lens. The original box shows age-related wear and damage. Please refer to the detailed photographs for the overall condition.

Measurement
Box: W 24cm x H 11.5cm
Lense: W 10cm x H 7.5cm

Material
Plasta / Acrylic

Period
c.1950s

Origin
England

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We hope this piece will find a new home where its history can be appreciated and its story carried forward.