

Cuff type compound microscope by Dollond, English, circa 1800
A compound microscope uses two or more sets of lenses. The Cuff-type microscope was invented by John Cuff (1708-1772). It was a very popular design, being easy to focus and, with its box-shaped stand, more stable than many other microscopes, which tended to have tripod stands.
This one has a drawer to store additional lenses and specimen holders. The mirror underneath the tube is known as a Lieberkühn reflector and it helped to light the object being studied. This microscope was made by one of the Dolland family, well known optical instrument makers.
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Science Museum: Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries
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Details
- Category:
- Microscopy (Wellcome)
- Object Number:
- A601261 Pt1
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, ivory, mahogany (wood), metal (unknown), paper (fibre product) and textile
- type:
- compound microscope
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- optical instrument
- microscope
- credit:
- Sutcliffe, H.
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