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Taxacom: proper name for type of glass dish

John Grehan calabar.john at gmail.com
Sat Nov 15 03:06:30 CST 2025 

Thank you to everyone for those inputs. Much appreciated! The 'solid watch
glass' came up with a 'solid' result when entering that term in a search
and scanning images. One showed up for the Carolina Biological supply
company calling it a 'watch glass, square'  Watch Glass, Square, 1 5/8 in |
Carolina Biological Supply
<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carolina.com%2Flab-dishes%2Fwatch-glass-square-1-58-in%2F742300.pr&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216014445%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=54vBs4LcGThQgeYO%2FxjvsB%2BwcIbj46cS0uFPuB9WL2A%3D&reserved=0>
No doubt there may be other terms, but for me this provides a local
supplier.

A UK supplier called it a 'watch glass' but under description described it
as a 'watch glass square'  and apparently their source was Carolina
Biological  Watch Glass - Blades Biological Ltd - Kent
<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblades-bio.co.uk%2Fshop%2Fcarolina-biological-supply%2Fother-carolina-products%2Fwatch-glass-cba-112%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216046855%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ghrJzKi1wyU9q%2FvNSsay5VFfbzqjF8vi7hWlonOIDGM%3D&reserved=0>

I also searched images for 'concave glass staining well' and found images
of the glass microscope slides with concave dishes which was another item I
was intending to look for.

My use for the watch glass block is to view moth genitalia in glycerine
under a microscope where the curved surface removes variable light
reflections from the glass surface when using a flat glass dish.

Thanks again to everyone. If one has a trivial or obscure question (not
only on nomenclature) , it seems that Taxacom is the place to go :)

Cheers, John



Watch Glass, Square, 1 5/8 in | Carolina Biological Supply
<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carolina.com%2Flab-dishes%2Fwatch-glass-square-1-58-in%2F742300.pr&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216066525%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2By%2F5z%2B2Sa%2BRAl0p1fpFP1dwv4MsBLCtW64Ykw5vSnv4%3D&reserved=0>

On Sat, Nov 15, 2025 at 12:16 AM Geoff Read via Taxacom <
taxacom at lists.ku.edu> wrote:

> Searching for "staining well" is likely to go nowhere these days.  ("my
> timber is staining well")
>
> Another name which might be more successful in English would be "solid
> watch glass", although it may now have dropped out of use.
> Once upon a time biologists used dishes resembling antique pocket-watch
> covers to hold their specimens.
> Hence "solid watch glass" for a more stable dish in the form of the dished
> glass block that is sought.
>
> Geoff
> --
> Geoffrey B. Read, Ph.D.
> Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
> gread at actrix.gen.nz
>
>
>
> >---- Original Message ----
> >From: Geoff Read via Taxacom <taxacom at lists.ku.edu>
> >To: "Krell,Frank" <Frank.Krell at ColoState.EDU>
> >Cc: "taxacom" <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
> >Sent: Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 5:42 PM
> >Subject: Re: Taxacom: proper name for type of glass dish
> >
> >Chemie und chemische Technik, deutsch-englisch : mit etwa 62 000
> Wortstellen
> >
> >https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fbwb_T2-FMF-111%2Fmode%2F2up%3Fq%3DBlocksch%25C3%25A4lchen&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216084926%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1nxba6NgIHQAOy4YaCcG5TtNqVWIfmTfnAMXGVuMshs%3D&reserved=0
> >
> >It is a staining well.   Or at least one use is for that.
> >
> >I have one in black glass, and use it for staining small worms.
> >
> >Geoff
> >--
> >Geoffrey B. Read, Ph.D.
> >Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
> >gread at actrix.gen.nz
> >
> >
> >
> >>---- Original Message ----
> >>From: "Krell,Frank via Taxacom" <taxacom at lists.ku.edu>
> >>To: "taxacom" <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>, "John Grehan" <
> calabar.john at gmail.com>
> >>Sent: Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 4:25 PM
> >>Subject: Re: Taxacom: proper name for type of glass dish
> >>
> >>Hi John,
> >>I would like to know that, too. You mean what we call "Blockschälchen"
> in German.
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conatex.com%2Fbiologie-lehrmittel%2Fmikroskopie-praeparation%2Fpraeparation-faerbung-und-mikroskopierbestecke%2Fblockschaelchen-klar-mit-vertiefung-deckplatte-40-x-40-mm.html&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216106590%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rehfC%2FkM%2FjYvY%2FDtGMp5ROIuQ066nUERPxw4h77F7nc%3D&reserved=0
> I have never seen them for sale in the US, but they are very common at
> German universities. Every biology student used them, at least in my time.
> I never found out how they are called here in the US. Partridge (1927: 52)
> gives as English equivalent "glass block with polished cavity".
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fia601500.us.archive.org%2F6%2Fitems%2Fin.ernet.dli.2015.502359%2F2015.502359.Dictionary-Of_text.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216130558%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZYgqc7g3j0ampK4GLF7WyouWH2Sd4ijMddjfbacTJmU%3D&reserved=0
> >>This is certainly not a trade name. Not sure if we are any further
> hundred years on. I bought mine in Germany a few years ago after years of
> unsuccessful search in the US. But if you don't know the name the locals
> call it, it is difficult to find. Anybody knows the English name? These
> Blockschälchen are great tools.
> >>Frank
> >>Dr. Frank-Thorsten Krell
> >>Faculty Affiliate/Museum Associate
> >>C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity
> >>Colorado State University
> >>Department of Agricultural Biology
> >>1177H Campus Delivery
> >>Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
> >>frank.krell at colostate.edu<mailto:frank.krell at colostate.edu>
> >>Phone 720.308.0241
> >>https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fprofile%2FFrank-Thorsten-Krell&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216156594%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HI6vrPGlVuotJ0OOSN7%2FsP%2BfwHEcIr7RiiQ2adInHGA%3D&reserved=0
> >>https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fcitations%3Fuser%3Da5mPMOQAAAAJ%26hl%3Den&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216176719%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rh75a8ww2mTx3O4uQNQ%2BtJkojLtrBCQ0OW0Rro3vUFk%3D&reserved=0
> >>https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dmns.org%2Fscience%2Fresearch%2Fglobal-entomology-research%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216199628%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UJ8NDFRjO2o6GJtprOtO%2FI7grEhrHeUQE%2Fe%2Fep2vhgA%3D&reserved=0
> >>https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dmns.org%2Fscience%2Fresearch%2Fcolorado-entomology-research%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216225043%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RtBjEhnr%2FxnTYimg7Z1wHV5W3o8GFCP5qw0t7%2BypLOM%3D&reserved=0
> >>from January or December, tbd.: National Taxonomist with USDA-APHIS at
> the Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC
> >>Regardless of the time I send this email, I do not expect you to read,
> take any action, or reply to this email outside of your usual working hours.
> >>________________________________
> >>From: Taxacom <taxacom-bounces at lists.ku.edu> on behalf of John Grehan
> via Taxacom <taxacom at lists.ku.edu>
> >>Sent: Friday, November 14, 2025 7:50 PM
> >>To: taxacom <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
> >>Subject: Taxacom: proper name for type of glass dish
> >>
> >>** Caution: EXTERNAL Sender **
> >>
> >>For examining bug dissections in fluid I have a small 4cm square, 1 cm
> >>high, glass block, with a round concave inner surface. Its been more
> than a
> >>decade outside professional environments and I have forgotten the proper
> >>name for this dish so I can see about procuring more. I would be grateful
> >>for any reminder on the name.
> >>
> >>Many thanks,
> >>
> >>John Grehan
> >>
> >>--
> >>https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhepialidsoftheworld.com.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216247459%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=C%2F%2BlrSzvHXy9c%2B2Es7teSgKKz6M2NUBtJIa3XpUv3BU%3D&reserved=0<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhepialidsoftheworld.com.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C6b9198a0435149fd994108de24265a83%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638987945216272345%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PBda8bKn0XdmShkRezgzNIAgKwyMPdBgYf3DYX5Y730%3D&reserved=0>
> (use the 'visit archived web site'
> >>link, then the 'Ghost Moth Research page' link.
> >>_______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>Nurturing nuance while assailing ambiguity for 38 years, 1987-2025.
> >>
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> >>
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> >>Taxacom Mailing List
> >>
> >>Nurturing nuance while assailing ambiguity for 38 years, 1987-2025.
> >>
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> >
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> _______________________________________________
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