Lewis Swift discovered NGC 1604 = Sw. VI-16 on 20 Dec 1886 with the 16" refractor at the Warner Observatory. His position is 8 tsec west of MCG -01-12-020 = PGC 15433, but his comment "between 2 stars one a wide double" secures the identification.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/1/92): fairly faint, small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE. The halo brightens to a small bright core. Situated between two mag 11 stars 2.3' ESE and 2.8' WNW. Located at the south edge of the NGC 1600 group. NGC 1600 lies 17' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb