Prepared Slides

These are 6 slides of 'flies' and includes imago head, anopheles imago head and mouth, musca imago leg, anopheles ova, drosophila vestigial wing male and female and anopheles pupa whole mount.

Abraham Flatters was one half of Flatters and Garnett Ltd that formed in 1901 and became in the early part of that century the largest producer of slide preparations in this country - if not the world. Prior to 1901 Flatters worked alone on slide production and achieved recognition for his skills and was elected FRMS in 1902. His slides from the 1890's were labelled in his own hand. This set of 40 slides have some labelled in his own hand with most having more printed labels. All of the top labels have the word 'Histology' even though quite a few of them are botanical in origin and the bottom labels have his name monogram. All have circular coverslips that have mostly been ringed in brown and yellow although the rings have lost some areas. All appear to have been mounted in Canada Balsam which of course has yellowed with age. Indeed, the whole collection does show signs of its age.
The historical record tells us that Flatters displayed enormous energy and technical skills and produced a very large number of slides in his lifetime as a mounter. Unfortunately, he had a difficult temperament which marked his inability to work with others for very long. Life was not good to him in many ways with his first wife committing suicide by drinking nitric acid from his own laboratory in 1903.

For those who know the history of microscope slide preparations, Flatters and Garnett needs no introduction. From the slide labels we can see that this set of 16 slides were prepared when the company was at 309 Oxford Road Manchester which was between 1920 and 1932. These slides are of bacteria species and are labelled in pen and ink and some have been ringed. A part of microscopy history,

Some years ago, ESP was a major supplier of educational microscope slides of quality. This is a set of six slides from what can best be described as 'bugs' The slides are of Mite, Pediculus female, Pediculus male and female, Culex image head, Culex larva and Pieris image proboscis
Each appropriately labelled and the set of six slides re boxed.

For many years in the later part of the last century Northern Biological Supplies owned and run by the late Eric Marson was the go to supplier of all things involved in microscope slide production as well as a significant range of prepared slides. All mounted by Eric himself with the exception of diatom and rock slides. This is a very early set of insect parts probably dating from the 1950's or so..

Watson and Sons have been associated with the manufacture or microscopes and all the accessories and support materials since Victorian times being first established in 1837. They continued to make microscope until the end of the 1960's, but never resumed slide preparation after the second world war. It is possible to date their products from their exact company name and the address at the time. These ten slides date from before 1908. They have the classic small circular logo and are otherwise labelled with pen and ink. The specimens include dogfish, honeybee tongue, oyster embryo and parts of rabbit and frog. Well worth adding to any antique slide collection.

Biosil was a firm operated by John Wells in the 1960's and was well known not only for the very wide range of specimen types but also their quality. This set of six slides is from a variety of leaves. All are stained with botanical staining methods and the specimens are from Leek, Lily, Spotted Laurel, Marsh Mallow, Tulip and Box Buxus.

A set of six slides from mammal tissues that have been expertly stained with haematoxylin and Eosin. Originally prepared by ESP Ltd in Sussex. The material consists of cerebellum, medulla oblongata (hind brain), salivary gland, oesophagus, thyroid and transitional epithelium from the bladder. Complete with presentation slide box.

This is a pair of wooden, stained and varnished slide boxes. Each will hold 100 slides on edge and the lid contains and index sheet. Each slide position is numbered condition excellent.

Biosil was a firm operated by John Wells in the 1960's and was well known not only for the very wide range of specimen types but also their quality. This is a set of 18 slides of botanical material which includes West Indian wood, tea, pine cones male and female, sweet potato, several pollens and even coconut. Each labelled with the classic Biosil label produced on a typewriter!

ESP were probably the last company to make prepared microscope slides for education within the UK. This set consists of 12 slides of various insect parts. Mite - whole mount, Head of housefly - whole mount, Head louse - male and female, Mosquito larva - whole mount, Head louse - female whole mount, Housefly leg - whole mount. Honeybee wing, cornea and sting, Mosquito eggs and Mosquito imago head. A well-presented set in a slide box.

This is a set of 9 slide bases that have 32 individually numbered 'boxes' usually used for displaying microfossils. The base is covered by a standard sized slide

This is a set of 5 slide bases that have 4 individual circular 'boxes' usually used for displaying microfossils or larger. The base is covered by a standard sized slide.

Some years ago ESP were a major supplier of educational microscope slides of quality. This is a set of six slides of leaf structure stained expertly with safranin and light green to show the various components. Haircap moss, pinus female cone, acer node, monocotyledon leaf, phytophthora (water mould) and pellia. Complete with presentation slide box.

Some years ago ESP were a major supplier of educational microscope slides of quality. This is a set of six slides of stem sections stained with safranin and light green to show the various components. Wheat, water lily, broad bean, maize L/S and T/S, dicotyledon and monocotyledon, and scotch broom. Complete with presentation slide box