BENJAMIN COLE CUFF-TYPE MICROSCOPE AND COMPENDIUM INCLUDING SOLAR AND SCREWBARREL MICROSCOPES
c. 1781
SIGNED: B. COLE
Serial Number: None
DESCRIPTION
This is a most rare and unusually complete compendium by the famous instrument maker Benjamin Cole; unfortunately it is no longer
in this collection, but because of its rarity and completeness, it is included on this website as a valuable and attractive reference.
Through a clever arrangement, as seen in the first picture above, all the larger components store neatly in the upper part of the case,
and as seen in the other pictures, the rest store in the two drawers, one built into the foot of the microscope, the other
fitting into the bottom of the case.
Not only does it include the Cuff-type microscope, but also a solar microscope. The Solar allows
for attachement of the 'megaloscope' for low-power observations, or the screwbarrel microscope allowing high power images to be
projected as well.
Accessories include:
- 6 screw-on objectives
- a cylindrical lieberkuhn holder which fits around
the nose of the microscope
- two lieberkuhns fitting the holder
- a livebox
-
substage mirror
- stage-mountable bullseye condenser
- Bonanni type stage
-
stage forceps
- fishplate with green ribbon
- thin vial for observing an eel or small fish
-
brass and glass live slide
- eight bone specimen sliders
- three large wooden sliders for use with the megaloscope
-
solar microscope
- megaloscope attachement with slotted rack and pinion focusing
- screwbarrel microscope
- size objectives for the screwbarrel microscope
-
a substage cone for regulation of lighting
- a hand lens
- a talc box with mica talcs and circlips
-
two screws for attaching the solar microscope to a window shutter
HISTORY OF CUFF-TYPE MICROSCOPES AND BENJAMIN COLE
In the first half of the eighteenth century tripod microscopes of the 'Culpepper' type were very common instruments.
According
to historical records, Henry Baker, a famous microscopist of the times complained about the shortcomings of the Culpepper
design and
specifically made this complaint to John Cuff. Cuff then came up with the side-pillar design now named after him and
called it
his 'newly contructed double microscope.' Its chief advantages were greater stability in design, easier more precise focusing, and
most obvious the much greater accessability of the stage.
His microscope made use of the Helvetius Screw, (invented about 1650) for fine focusing, something that Marshall had used earlier.
Unfortunately for Cuff, he was not a good businessman, and many competitors, particularly
Benjamin Martin, successfully competed against him leading Cuff into eventual bankruptcy. His design survived and was copied
by many makers including Cole, Dolland, and others. Benjamin Cole, much like Benjamin Martin was a general scientific instrument maker, but
became especially famous for his orreries. Benjamin Cole's son (also Benjamin) lived into the first quarter of the 19th century and was the maker
of this microscope. The orrery was such an important part of the Cole's history that they operated 'At the Orrery next the Globe Tavern in Fleet Street, London.'
Nevertheless, microscopes signed by Cole are exceedingly rare.
