The Chest microscope, developed by British designers Edward Nairne and Thomas Blunt, was an improvement on the traditional Cuff microscope that increased the portability of the instrument.

Nairne and Blunt modified the Cuff microscope by attaching it to a wooden box by means of a hinge, so the microscope could quickly be swung down into the box and carried away. The wooden storage box also served as a storage facility for microscope objectives and other accessories. This modification also increased the ease of use because the microscope could now be inclined, unlike Cuff's original design.

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