North America Archives

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In the era of the quill and, later, the fountain pen, erorrs were erased by scraping off the dry ink. The instuments used for this purpose were called “rubbers”. They often appear on Ebay and other platforms described as bloodletting knives. This is an unsual example in that it has a finial in the form of a skull. One side of the blade is stamped “Landers. Frary & Clark”, a firm located in New Britain, Connecticut. The excerpt from Read More...

06 May

A Fine Set of MOP Dental Instruments with Dolphin Handles

By M and R Gordon

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A superb set of mid-19th century dental instruments with mother-of-pearl handles in the form of dolphins. The section in the center of the tray is a mirro, hence the reflections in the first image. Instruments of this type are seldom signed but SS white may well bve the maker. This tray of instuments was probably part of a larger set containing a MOP mirror, scissors and a variety of steel instuments. Read More...

16 Apr

[COMPUTING] Early documents and a photograph showing magnetic drum memory, circa 1948

By Boris Jardine Rare Books

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[ENGINEERING RESEARCH ASSOCIATES] Photograph and engineering documents for an experimental Magnetic Drum Memory system Engineering Research Associates, St Paul MN, circa 1948 Gelatin silver print, on glossy paper stock, 217 x 278mm [together with:] 8 sheets of engineering drawings, reproduced from manuscript originals, 216 x 279mm An outstanding survival: a group of original mimeographed engineering drawings, and a presentation photograph of the assembled magnetic drum memory system, dating from the very early years of the development of this crucial component of electronic digital Read More...

08 Apr

Late Victorian Dr Richardsons Magneto Galvanic Battery

By Jason Clarke Antiques

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For sale, a Late Victorian Dr Richardson’s Magneto Galvanic Battery This fascinating Victorian quack medicine device is formed as a medallion comprised of a mixture of metals including nickel, zinc, copper and brass. The medal has concentric rings of metal with a series of circular discs of metal on the inner circle formed around a heart in the centre. The cross is engraved to the front with, “Richardson’s Magneto Galvanic Battery” with lightning bolt motifs in the remaining space to Read More...

27 Mar

C1900 Medical Faradic Battery

By M and R Gordon

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Medical Faradic Battery complete in original box ad vg condition. Length of wooden base: 6.5″ Read More...

27 Mar

A C1917 Eureka Thread Tester

By M and R Gordon

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A C1917 Eureka Thread Tester that retains its original labeled box and paperwork. Appears to be in working order. Height of instrument :6″. There is a February 1917 date hand stamped on the interior base of of the box.The company was renamed the Eureka Silk Manufacturing Company in 1881. Thus we can assume that this device was produced between that date and 1917. The company advertised it as follows: “for testing the strength of silk, linen and cotton thread. Read More...

24 Mar

A pre-1912 Ashcroft Coffin Planimeter

By M and R Gordon

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A cased pre-1912 Ashcroft Coffin Planimeter in vg condition, noting a dot of corrosion on the reverse side that can be seen in images. The Smithsonian has an identical instrument on their site with, of course, a different serial number. they note: This German silver instrument is a curved bar with a short arm, on which a short cylindrical weight is placed, and a longer arm, to which a tracer point is screwed. The middle of the bar has a Read More...

24 Mar

K&E PARAGON BEAM COMPASS SET

By M and R Gordon

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A good set of K&E Paragon beam compasses. Length of case: 6″ or 15cm. Our last image confirms that Paragon beam compasses of this exact type were being sold by K&E in the 1880s, the set on offer is from early in the next century. New York did not establish a Public Service Commission until 1907. Read More...

24 Mar

Dr. John Butler’s 1881 patented Electro-Magnetic Massage Roller

By M and R Gordon

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Dr. John Butler patented his Electro-Magnetic Massage Roller in February 1, 1881–a copy of the patent submission drawing can be seen in the last image. The patent date is struck on one side of the device’s frame. The instrument is in very good condition with the chamois on the roller intact. It retains its original carrying case, which has a crack in the lid. The idea was that the patient would benefit from the simultaneous application of both massage Read More...

19 Mar

Two Sample Sets of WW2-Era Surgical Needles

By M and R Gordon

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Two Sets of WW2-Era Surgical Needles. The US Military set ( 9″ x6.5″) has three pages of needles, all complete. The Berbecker’s set( 9″ x 7″) has four pages of needles , all complete. The case, binder and needles are in very good condtion with no corrosion or rust on the latter. Read More...

19 Feb

Hales Obstetrical Forceps: Long and Short Versions

By M and R Gordon

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Edwin Moses Hale (1829-1899), was professor of materia medica and therapeutics at Hahnemann Medical College. In 1880 he introduced his obstetrical forceps in a long and short version. We are offering examples of both with checkered ebony handles. The short version is 9″ long. S&C= Spencer and Crocker, Cincinatti. Read More...

18 Feb

C1895 Jewitt’s Axis Traction Obstetrical Forceps

By M and R Gordon

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C1895 Jewitt’s Axis Traction Obstetrical Forceps. Unsigned. Charles Jewitt introduced his forceps in an article published in 1895 in the Brooklyn Medical Journal: Brooklyn Med J 1895 V-9: 23-30. At the time he was a Professor of Obstetrics at Long Island Hospital in Brooklyn.His forceps were an attempt to improve the then gold standard in traction forceps: Tarnier’s. ” In 1877, French obstetrician Etienne Tanier (1828-1897) introduced the most important innovation in obstetrical forceps during the 1800s. It consisted Read More...