A Mechanical Device for Retrieving Ribbons of Ultrathin Sections Without Folds

An improved version of a mechanical device for retrieving ribbons of ultrathin sections free of wrinkles is described. The device is simple and easy to use and can be used by both right- and left-handed operators. A grid is grasped by forceps which are held in position by a magnet in such a way that it can be lowered into the water well behind the floating sections. After a ribbon has been properly aligned, moved to the grid and fastened by an end-section, the grid with the sections is slowly drawn up and out of the water with a rack-and-pinion mechanism.