Is it possible to obtain higher alchemical tools at level 1?

[Johnny Casey]

I'm doing level 1 playthrough. I am not going to level up my character whatsoever.
And as you all know, everything levels up with you in this game, so if you want to find powerful items, you just have to level up.

Will alchemical tools(Mortar and Pestle, Alembic, etc) are the same case? If I'm forever at level 1, I will never see any Apprentice or higher alchmical tools?

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by UESP:

The highest level of equipment that is guaranteed to be in Cyrodiil (without mods) is Apprentice. There are a few instances of each individual piece of Apprentice equipment. The only complete set, containing all four pieces of Apprentice equipment, is housed in Fathis Aren's Tower, on the table on the upper floor of the tower. The location is related to Arrow of Extrication. It is possible to sneak past Fathis, enter the grotto, enter the tower, and take the equipment, all without killing Fathis or being on the quest at the time. Fathis will not attack a Mages Guild member in good standing but any creatures present in the tower will.

Originally posted by UESP:

In the Shivering Isles, a Journeyman Calcinator (along with an Apprentice Mortar and Pestle and a Novice Alembic) can be found in the quarters of the Duke of Mania.

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Alchemy#Obtaining_Apparatus

[Lukeo53]

I believe that the Archmage's chambers at the top of the Arcane University has some higher level alchemy equipment that you can steal

[DrNewcenstein]

IIRC, your skill level in Alchemy determines whether you can use higher-level Alchemy equipment. Sure, you can find Master-level Alembics and whatnot, but you can't use it unless you match its base level requirement.

Then again, I haven't played Oblivion in years, and I may be mis-remembering it.

[Bomb Bloke]

There's no skill or level requirement to "use" any of the alchemy equipment - if you can get your hands on it, you can use it right away.