MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

As many of you may be aware I am an American Optical fan, though that is not the only brand i use or have. This is a recent purchase. I fully expected it to arrive needing cleaning, lubrication and significant babying. To my surprise it arrived very well packed, fully lubed and completely functional! Though it does need cleaning.

Another awesome E-bay acquisition. I have accumulated the various chemicals needed to kill, dehydrate, and fix specimens, just have yet to purchase the paraffin. I am researching mounting mediums. I also need to purchase a microtome blade. I would appreciate any advice in that regards.

During my research I also searched and acquired several books that came highly recommended:

Plant Microtechnique and Microscopy by Steven Ruzin
Methods In Plant Histology by Charles Chamberlain
Elements of Botanical Microtechnique by John Sass
Plant Microtechnique by Donald Johansen

With the exception of the book by Ruzin, they are older volumes filled with incredible information. Ruzin recommended them.

These volumes were not expensive and give explicit guidance on prepping botanical specimens. I hope to begin soon once my current work schedule slows up. With my daughter starting college and my wife prepping for a huge family reunion in Costa Rica ( Her birthplace) I have been swamped with one distraction after another.

Beautiful looking instrument. Is it considered a rocking microtome? Sorry, I don't know much about them, but they are intriguing.
CE

No this is a Rotary Microtome. This model was originally replaced by model 815 and then 820 which you see a lot of on E-bay as well as youtube still in use by many labs. Good Solidly built machines. This weighs about 40 lbs.

Very impressive. Looking forward to an account of your experiences and some images after the distractions are eliminated

Excellent, I thought as much by looking at the cranks. I'm looking forward to videos of it in action. I love the black crinkle finish.
CE

Looks like the one that I have on the way but mine has a black cover. The seller also listed it as a 820 but I think it's between the 810 and 820.

Yes, I was bitten too. I'll post pictures when it arrives.

Here is a picture taken by the seller of mine which is on its way. Maybe a 815?. Pictures posted with seller's permission.

Here is a manual from Steve Neeley's site:
http://webmight.com/~psneeley/downloads ... rotome.pdf

They are very nice looking. Congratulations to both of you.
Useful manual. Like the problem solving sections.

I have the manual and I considered purchasing that same microtome on E-bay. . There was a difference of price so I risked taking the cheaper route. I believe that is an early version of the model 820. Both the 810 and the 815 had no covers. They are essentially the same basic internals. I believe the cover was added for safety and to help keep the internals clean etc. Yours has the sample holder. I have located a company that sells sample holders. The trick will be determining which one works best with my model, if any.

Hi einman,
You said "I also need to purchase a microtome blade." I found http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-10-AO-Am ... 1162437280 which may interest you, I'm sure you won't want all 10, however, if you select the best one, then you could put the others back on eBay and recoup your outlay. The blade with the wax on the cutting edge should be sharpest.
Hope this helps.
Peter.

The 810, 815, and 820 where available at the same time. The 810 being the simplest of the three, but also relatively light and compact compared to its bigger cousins.

The knife you need is the American Optical 940. It is 110 mm wide. You can of course fit a longer knife as well, but then it will stick out on the side of the knife holder.

I have enclosed an original brochure from the 1920's where the difference between the models 810, 815 and 820 is explained. Personally I have an 810 and two 820s. Excellent machines and still in use today in many labs.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/otmlkybowuzme ... g.pdf?dl=0

THANKS for the info everyone. Especially the brochure.

Thank you for the catalog HKV!

I purchased the 10 blades. Boy are they sharp. Anyone need a blade for a good price? I believe these are model 942's. They look like they will fit though.