Hey Fred, 
  Those black AO's were indestructible and you could hook them up to a
Singer sewing machine treadle and make them foot-a-mated because they
had that groove in the wheel.  At least Kevin isn't using a pen knife
and a piece of cork.  Of course, I'm jealous of the UK guys that could
go to the pub at noon and then come back to the lab and stain and smoke
pipes........   are those jobs still available?  lol
Sarah

>>> "Fred Underwood"  8/25/2004 12:24:27 PM >>>
Ahhh,  Old Grey.  Kevin, it's lucky you didn't end up with a "black
AO".
 Finding a blade holder that accepts Pterodactyl talons is difficult.

>>> "Sarah Jones"  08/25/04 12:37PM >>>
Hi Kevin,
   I would suggest using high profile disposable blades, they are
sturdier for cutting hard tissues.  Both VWR and Fisher carry the TBS
Shur/Sharp blade holder for high profile blades.  If the microtome
sectioning doesn't work, I would try the Buehler Isomet low speed saw.

Just FYI, in histo circles your microtome is called the "grey AO", a
little histo history for you.   Good luck, Sarah

Sarah Jones, HT(ASCP)
Histology Lab
Dept. of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences 
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4458
phone: 979-845-3177
fax:  979-458-3499


>>> Kevin Cannariato  8/25/2004 11:16:06 AM >>>
First off, forgive me for asking what is probably a novice question.

I am a geologist that would like to sample tree rings at sub-annual 
resolution. This requires taking ~20 um thick slices of tree cores. 
People who have done this before use a microtome. I have obtained an 
American Optical Spencer 820 microtome that appears to be in working 
order. We have been told that it would probably be easier to use 
disposable blades rather than the old one that came with it.

I would like to know where we could purchase a disposable blade holder

and disposable blades for this American Optical Spencer 820 microtome.

Thanks,
Kevin

_________________________________________
Kevin G. Cannariato, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Southern California
3651 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0740

tel: (213) 740-6733
fax: (213) 740-8801
email: cannaria@usc.edu 
web: http://earth.usc.edu/~cannaria 
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