Repurposing.... Reichert vs Leica

[Plasmid]

I can't help but noticed how similar the Leica AtC 2000 looks like the Reichert Microstar IV, specially the head and overall fixed stage design. Similarly the Polyvar and Polylite 88. In the case of the ATC how many years was it introduced,? After or before merger?

[apochronaut]

ATC 2000 was pitched at the student microscope market. It was basically a replacement in the catalogue for the 150 based on a simple plug in 4 objective platform utilizing D.I.N. achromats and planachromats. It also had a 4 objective phase option. They went into production shortly before the Microstar and Diastar were discontinued in Buffalo and the last one came off the line in India. Subsequently Labomed microscopes used the same optical system.

The merger took place in 1991 and the ATC 2000 appeared afterwards but I am not sure when production began.