MICROSCOPE SLIDE OBJECT MARKER
19TH CENTURY
DESCRIPTION:
This is an object marker. It attaches to the nosepiece of a microscope. Its purpose is to stamp an ink mark around an area of interest on a slide. It is spring loaded so breakage will not occur as it is lowered on the slide. There are two tips of different diameters. Ink would be applied and the marker lowered.
HISTORY OF THE OBJECT MARKER
As the power of the microscope increased, and permanent slides became more common, it became neccesary to find a convenient way of returning to a particular area of interest on the same slide. One way was to use a slide registration system on the stage or a Maltwood finder. Another and simpler way was simply to mark the area on the slide. Two different types of object marker were devised. The first and earlier method is the inking type seen on this page. Later a diamond-tipped adjustable marker could be used. The ink was easier to find, but the diamond marker made a more permanent circle around the area of the slide in question. Both types of marker were made into the 20th Century and beyond, though the inking type was improved.
