A FINE GEORGE II MAHOGANY CASED CUFF PATTERN MONOCULAR MICROSCOPEJOHN CUFF, LONDON, MID 18th CENTURYThe body tube with stepped moulded shuttered eyepiece over ogee waist and objective tube incorporating marks for six positions on an exponential scale numbered 1 to 6, supported via a tapered collar set in a ring attached to a vertical slide moving against the fixed limb upright marked with six further positions for the respective objectives also numbered 1 to 6, with collar clamp to enable initial positioning and fine screw for focus adjustment, the concave-sided cruciform stage with central aperture fitted with a collar and slider clips to underside and with sockets for the various tools to two of the arms, the centre signed J. Cuff Maker LONDON, the base with socket and scroll-shaped bracket support over a shaped horizontal plate applied with a pivoted concave mirror assembly beneath the stage, the whole mounted on an ebonised cavetto moulded plinth incorporating drawer to front containing three (out of six) objectives numbered 2, 3 and 6, pivoted condenser lens, forceps, slider collar, specimen capsule and seven bone sliders, with original obelisk-shaped case with hinged brass carrying handle to the ogee-turned domed surmount over caddy moulded angles, the front with door opening to reveal internal apron drawer containing additional accessories including a brass frog plate and a bone cylinder containing mica slider inserts.The box 44cm (17.25ins) high with handle down, 21cm (8.25ins) square at the base.John Cuff is recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as an optician and maker of optical instruments, microscopes, mathematical and philosophical instruments working in London 1731-70. Clifton notes that from 1737 until 1757 he was trading as a maker of 'Reflecting Microscopes and Spectacles against Sergeant's Inn Gate in Fleet Street', then 1757-58 at 'Double Microscope, three Pair of Golden Spectacles & Hadley's Quadrant opposite Salisbury Court in Fleet Street' and finally in 1764 at 'Strand, London'.The design of the present instrument came about through John Cuff's close association with the natural philosopher Henry Baker (1698-1774) whose frustration with the limitations of the Culpeper microscope identified the need for a new and improved instrument. In response to this in 1744 Cuff developed his 'new-constructed Double Microscope' which afforded 'improved accessibility for hand manipulation of the specimen by the microscopist'. Although his design proved very popular John Cuff was unable to make enough money to sustain his business hence he was declared bankrupt in 1750. A major contributing factor to him going out of business was strong competition from the eminent instrument maker, Benjamin Martin, who set-up shop next door to Cuff in Fleet Street. The demand for Cuff's microscope was subsequently mostly satisfied by Peter Dollond, who continued producing instruments to this design well into the second half of the century.