North America Archives - Page 2 of 12

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The Dalkon Shield, an IUD, was invented by Dr. Hugh Davis c1970, who subsequently sold it to A.H. Robins C0. in 1971. It was widely prescribed as a contraceptive. It soon became apparent that it was creating very serious health issue for some women who had received one. In 1974 it was withdrawn from the market. A law suit followed: Barclay Littelfied in his 2020 essay on the Dalkon shield lawsuit notes ( https://www.ukessays.com/essays/law/the-dalkon-shield-lawsuit.php ): ” The Dalkon Shield event was Read More...

08 Jun

19th-Century Unused American Pharmacy Label

By M and R Gordon

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An unusually decorative and unused prescription label from a pharmacy run by Frank Nichols in New London, Connecticut. Diameter” 2″ or 5cm. Read More...

16 May

Nine Pre-1970 Condom Packets

By M and R Gordon

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Nine Vintage Condom Packets. All indicate that they were only being sold for prevention of venereal diseases or similar, validating that they were made before 1965, when US Federal law was changed to permit the sale of contraceptives. Numbers 1 and 9 are lithographed tin; the rest are light-weight paper board. They are, of course, being sold as collectibles; given their age, they would most definitely not function effectively as prophylactics or contraceptives! 2, 3, 7 & 9 are $30 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...

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...

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

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...

25 Jan

Heartometer Diagnostic Disks and Manual

By M and R Gordon

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Ten diagnostic disks and a manual for the Cameron Heartometer. The disks are 9.25″ in diameter. The Heartometer instrument shown in last image is not part of this listing! We’ve owned several Heartometers over the years but not disks or a manual. We are offering 10 diagnostic disks and the manual, all in very good condition. The fourth image shows an illustration of a disk with a diagnoses; there are a number of these diagnostic disks illustrations in the Read More...

30 Dec

The Binary Slide Rule

By Fletcher

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An example of celluloid circular slide rule made by the ‘Gibson Slide Rule Co. Florida, USA. One side copyrighted 1940, the other side with scales for trigonometry copyrighted in 1931, in good condition with original soft leather wallet, and instruction booklet Read More...

30 Nov

Silver Advertising Stickpin for Oxydonor-Like Device

By M and R Gordon

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Wiki notes:” The Electropoise was a fake medical instrument] and sold in the United States of America by Hercules Sanche, who also invented and sold other fake instruments which were later termed as “electroquackery”[2] and included such devices as the “Oxydonor” which were claimed to remedy a range of ailments”. The great commercial success of Sanchez’s devices, despite their having no real medical benefits, apart from perhaps a placebo effect, inspired others to copy them. This silver stickpin was an Read More...