Title: Brass hand microtome

Identifier: LL02.48.06.01   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/22032)

Description: At first, tissue sections were cut with a Valentin's knife, consisting of two closely spaced adjustable blades. The hand microtome was used with a straight razor. More elaborate versions were heavier, had calibrated screws, glass tops and were used resting on a table. Several versions of mechanical microtomes, including the Minot rotary microtome, were invented in the 1880's. This microtome was manufactured in the 2nd half of the 19th Century.