North America Archives - Page 13 of 16

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MILLARD’S FACE MEASURE, American, c. 1920, bearing 1903 and 1918 patent dates. Made of plated brass, 6-3/4″ (17 cm) long, this is a combination linear rule, caliper and angle measure. Invented by Samuel B. Millard of New Orleans, Louisiana, its serves to measure interpupilary distance, as well as the width of the bridge of the nose, the distance between the back of the ear (or the bridge of the nose) and the eyelashes, the length of the temple, the Read More...

17 Oct

SET OF THIRTEEN WORLD WAR I STEREO VIEWERS

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SET OF THIRTEEN WORLD WAR I STEREO VIEWERS, American, 1919, by Charles T. Buell & Co. Each fixed-focus viewer is 4-1/2″ x 4-3/8″ x 2″ (11 x 11 x 5 cm) overall, with its rectangular varnished wood box, turned and blackened wood eyepiece surrounds, ground glass window, original insertable glass stereo view, brass latch, and printed descriptive card tacked atop. The views show scenes of loss in the trenches and fields of France, cemeteries there, etc. The descriptions are Read More...

12 Oct

U.S. NAVY TELESCOPIC STADIMETER

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U.S. NAVY TELESCOPIC STADIMETER, American, c. 1942, signed on plaques “Schick, Inc., Stamford, Conn.” and “U.S. Navy-Bu. Ships, #2244 – 1942,” and “Repaired by Boston Naval Shipyard.” This elaborate distance measuring device, 10-3/4″ (27 cm) overall, is made of brass with black crinkle, clear lacquer, and plated finishes, with a shaped mahogany handle. It works something like a sextant but limited to small angular separations, and with readout directly in distance rather than in angle. One sets the size Read More...

05 Oct

GOOD AMERICAN SEXTANT OUTFIT

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GOOD AMERICAN SEXTANT OUTFIT, c, 1850, signed on the arc “E. & G.W. Blunt, New York.” With its sturdy 1/2″ thick lattice frame, the sextant measures 11″ (28 cm) across at its widest point, and has a 9-1/4″ (23 cm) long index arm. Constructed of blackened brass, it is fitted with shaped mahogany handle, three shaped brass legs, two mirrors, seven swing-away filters, index arm clamp and long tangent screw, scale diffuser, swing-away scale magnifier, and adjustable telescope mount. Read More...

23 Sep

LIGHTNING PROTECTION ON THE WATER

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION ON THE WATER, American, 1858, signed “Roswell W. Haskins, Buffalo, N.Y.,” comprising the original model submitted to the U.S. Patent Office, as part of the application resulting in the granting of patent 20877, issued 13 July 1858. The model is made of wood, painted, and clad with brass sheeting in various places inside and out. Measuring 12″ x 8-1/4″ x 5″ (30 x 21 x 13 cm), it is in the form of the stern portion of Read More...

21 Sep

CRAIG-FORM HIGH POWER MICROSCOPE

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CRAIG-FORM HIGH POWER MICROSCOPE, American, c. 1870. This 4-1/2″ (11 cm) tall white metal microscope is a vertical drum form with articulated plane mirror. But unlike the typical compound drum form, here a special high power lens is mounted at the top, and the specimen slide is mounted immediately below. Condition is fine. In 1862 Craig received patent #34,409 for his simple microscope comprising a high power lens mounted just above the specimen slide slot, atop a vertical cylinder housing Read More...

31 Aug

DOUBLE SIDED OPTOMETRIST’S TRADE SIGN

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DOUBLE SIDED OPTOMETRIST’S TRADE SIGN, American, early 20th century, lettered “Dr. Jerome Hoyt, Optometrist” on both sides in gold on black sand. With its rectangular wooden frame, it measures 43″ x 12-1/2″ x 1-5/8″ (109 x 32 x 4 cm) overall, and is fitted with two large iron eyes for hanging. In good condition throughout, this is a fine example of the kind of trade sign hung along the streets of late 19th / early 20th century American cities. The Read More...

31 Aug

SPINAL CURVATURE DEMONSTRATED — ROTATION ACCOMPANYING LATERAL CURVATURE

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SPINAL CURVATURE DEMONSTRATED — ROTATION ACCOMPANYING LATERAL CURVATURE, probably American, late 19th century. This remarkable working anatomical “model” is constructed of human vertebrae, spring-supported, mounted in a fine columnar wood stand and measuring 20″ (51 cm) overall. Presentation plaques record its donation to a New York medical institution by a Dr. A.B. Judson, and its demonstration of “The Cause of Rotation in Lateral Curvature of the Spine, first seen by Andrew Dods, M.D., London, 1824.” Eighteen vertebrae are supported Read More...

28 Aug

DR. JOHN BUTLER’S ELECTRO-MASSAGER

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DR. JOHN BUTLER’S ELECTRO-MASSAGER, American, c. 1885, stamped “Pat¹d. Feb 1, 81.” Measuring 8-5/8″ (22 cm) in overall length, this hand powered device combines physical massage with the benefits of electro-therapy. Constructed of plated brass and iron, it has a chamois-covered cylindrical massage roller which drives, through approximately 23:1 gearing, an electromagnet’s double coil against a permanent magnet. The handle, coated in hard rubber, is in fact the large permanent magnet. The roller, when moistened, is one electrode in Read More...

27 Aug

EARLY AMERICAN ORTHOPEDIC OUTFIT FOR REDUCING DISLOCATIONS AND FRACTURES

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EARLY AMERICAN ORTHOPEDIC OUTFIT FOR REDUCING DISLOCATIONS AND FRACTURES, c. 1845, signed “Manufactured by H. & G. Kellogg, Derby, Conn.” Contained in the 15″ (38 cm) wide walnut carrying case is a complete traction outfit, with folding doubly-expandable wood splint, various supports and clamps in polished steel some with chamois leather bindings, canvas straps, and the fine 13-3/4″ long (minimum) ratcheting mechanism in lacquered brass and steel. It is all of high quality craftsmanship and in fine condition throughout. Patented Read More...

04 Aug

MANUAL BREAST PUMP

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MANUAL BREAST PUMP, American or English, c. second quarter 20th century, measuring 5-3/4″ (15 cm) overall. The hand-blown glass body has a flared conical shape, with bulbous reservoir to one side, and is fitted with a now-quite-hard rubber bulb. Designed expressly to stimulate milk production, and to collect breast milk for bottle feeding, the pump is in fine condition. Read More...

04 Aug

FOWLER’S CURVED URETHRAL SOUNDS

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FOWLER’S CURVED URETHRAL SOUNDS, American, c. 1885, signed on the case label “C.E. Riker, 1227 Broadway, N.Y.” This is a complete set of six double-ended finely-polished metal sounds in graduated sizes, all contained in the original 12-3/8″ (31 cm) long leather bound wood case. Condition is very fine, the case exterior a bit rough. An identical set is listed in a late 19th century Sharp and Smith catalogue, as “Dr. Fowler’s set of sounds” having “the regular Van Buren curve Read More...