Abstract: The suction and light guide assembly is positionable within a vertical tube of a suction head in an electronic component holding apparatus having a transparent lower plate attached to a lower end of the vertical tube. The assembly comprises a solid elongate optical element positioned in and extending substantially the length of the vertical tube. The optical element has a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer peripheral surface. The optical element also has an axial passage within the body extending upwardly from the bottom surface part way through the optical element and at least one generally radially extending passage communicating with the axial passage and extending to the outer peripheral surface of the optical element. The optical element is positioned within the tubular member in an air-tight manner.