Valentin knife, London, England, 1850-1870
- maker:
- Weiss, John
Valentin knife with sliding adjuster, nickel-plated steel and ebony handle, by Weiss of London, c.1860
A Valentin knife was one of the few knives able to cut slices of organs and soft tissues for microscopic examination. The double-bladed knife worked best when the blades were wet – best of all when submerged in water. When not in use the nickel-plated steel blades were put in leather covers to protect them. Named after its inventor, Professor Gabriel Valentin (1810-1883), a German-Swiss physiologist, the knife was popular from its invention in 1838 until the 1890s.
Details
- Category:
- Microscopy (Wellcome)
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A135073
- Materials:
- steel, nickel plated
- Measurements:
-
overall: 4 mm x 205 mm x 19 mm, .03kg
- type:
- valentin knife