On Fri, 10 Sep 1999, Donna Sitrin wrote:

> Could I get a little feedback on any new microtome purchases?  I'm looking
> for good quality machines with reasonable service contracts.

  The prices of new microtomes are abominably high.
  I nearly typed "absurdly high," but this is a simple
  instrument that is needed everywhere in the world.

  Older microtomes, if they have been carefully maintained
  (meaning occasional cleaning, oiling, a spot of grease in
  the right place, and keeping and reading the maker's manual)
  are almost immortal, so the market for new ones cannot be
  very large. This may be why they are so expensive.

  You could save thousands of dollars/pounds/etc by buying
  a second-hand microtome. Universities often sell off their
  former capital assets very cheaply.

 John A. Kiernan,
 Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
 The University of Western Ontario,
 LONDON,  Canada  N6A 5C1
   E-mail: kiernan@uwo.ca