George Adams announced the launch of the Universal Double microscope in his Micrographia Illustrata simultaneously with the Universal Single microscope. These microscopes were very similar in design and were intended to be both portable and useful in all sorts of applications (universal).

The major difference between the Single and Double Universal microscopes is the presence of a wooden body tube containing two bi-convex lenses (in place of a single lens) on the double microscope. Aside from that, the basic construction of the two microscopes is the same, as are the techniques used to adjust focus via positioning of the specimen stage. Both microscopes have an internal threaded shaft, traversing the interior of the pillar, that can be manipulated to position the stage vertically. Other features in common are the rotating wheel (a modern rotating nosepiece precursor) containing multiple lenses with which to increase the magnification of the specimen, and the tri-sector folding foot base.

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