Archives

Nicholson “Princo” Sphygmomanometer, C1914

Nicholson “Princo” Sphygmomanometer,: Oak box, 8× 2.25× 1.5” which lifts lid to reveal manometer folded in half. Extends with scale to 300 mm Hg. The reservoir is at the side about 3 x .75. When the tube folds down a valve closes to prevent the loss of mercury[mercury well is empty]. The base contains directions. No cuff, rubber bulb or tubing. All the examples we have come across personally or on the web have lacked these accessories. The small Read More...

Fame and Legacy: Ramsden “Mementos” from the past 100 Years

Ramsden’s name continues in current usage, whether as the “Ramsden disk” (the exit pupil of a telescope), the “Ramsden eyepiece” (his design, with twin plano-convex lenses, the curves facing each other), or “Point Ramsden” (in present day British Columbia, named by Captain Vancouver on his 1793 explorations). Even a lunar crater bears his name, located at lunar latitude -32.9°, longitude -31.8° And much of his instrumentation has had a long productive life: his (or Troughton’s version of his) dividing Read More...

Portable Universal Equinoctial Dial

This is an instrument that consists of a brass base and a brass stand on which a semi-circular metal dial plate and gnomon are attached. The base is circular and has a felt bottom. It has a compass set into it with a central needle, engraved cardinal directions and scale around the rim graduated in degrees. Next to this, on the vertical edge of the base, there is a small rod emerging from a slot. Sliding this fixes the Read More...

19th Century American Portable Engraved Bronze Sundial

19th Century American Portable Engraved Bronze Sundial   Rare American portable sundial from the 19th century, finely engraved in bronze with inscriptions of various U.S. cities for geographical reference and calibration. This beautifully crafted instrument reflects the precision and ingenuity of 19th-century American scientific craftsmanship, combining practical function with elegant design.   The piece retains a warm natural patina and finely detailed engraving, emphasizing its authenticity and historical value.   Dimensions (closed): 10 × 10 × 4 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 1.6 in).   A collectible 19th-century Read More...

scrimshaw bone compass and magnifying glass, marine

A similar artwork (though without reference to a specific ship) can be seen in https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/scrimshaw-bone-loupe-compass-mermaid-1867300976  Read More...

A set of four Cole’s 1886 US Patent throat speculums

A set of four Cole’s 1886 US Patent throat speculums. Each marked with patent date and all in very good+ condition. Read More...

Certified precision ruled diffraction grating by Bausch & Lomb

A large certified precision ruled diffraction grating by Bausch & Lomb of Rochester, New York. 600 grooves / mmBlaze angle 28 degrees, 41 minutes.Radius concave Serial number: 889-8-1-3Catalogue number 35 53 12 55 Width: 20 cm. Depth: 8 cm. Height: 17.5 cm. (window: 10 x 13.5 cm).   Read More...

C1890 Electro-Galvanic Quack Belt

A c1890 quack electro-galvanic belt. Claims by sellers of this type of belt were  ambitious. They supposedly could cure anything from, from ED to rheumatism and even, in some case, life-threatening diseases. There is no maker’s name on this belt and the 1888 patent date on the buckle is  more likely for the buckle than the belt. Overall condition is pretty good but the cloth covering on the wires is worn in spots. Read More...

Healy Pictorial Completion Test II

We are offering an example of a Healy Pictorial Completion Test II that was used for measuring intelligence. It is in very good good condition and retains its original case (11″ x 11″ x 1.5″). The illustrations were done by Marguerite Davis, a well-known children’s book illustrator, who was active in the  early decades of the last century. It was copyrighted in 1917 by the Judge Baker Foundation, which is still in operation today. ” The “Judge Baker Foundation” Read More...

1888 Patent Gonorrheal Apron: mint and boxed

Before the introduction of antibiotics in the 1940s, there was no truly effective cure for gonorrhea. Mercury, silver nitrate and heat were used but the their effectiveness was questionable and they came with risks of toxicity and other issues. As a result some men suffered from chronic gonorrhea with its associated discharge, the latter sometimes referred to as “gleet”(this term was also used for the disease itself). On January 3, 1888 W.F. Ware patented ( patent number : 0375846) Read More...

1940s Metabolic Rate Calculating Slide Rule

A metal slide rule produced by the Jones Metabolism Equipment Company.It is marked in part “JONES METABOLISM EQUIPMENT CO” and “CHICAGO, ILLINOIS” on the back side, plus it has the directions for use on the back side.The front has two slides, and is designed to calculate percentage metabolic rate from the various inputs.Overall length is about 11-1/4″. The body appears to be aluminum, and the slides are probably anodized aluminum. A magnet is not attracted to any part of Read More...

Unusual Ebonite Sick Siphon with Internal Mechanism

 The classic 19th-century sick siphon is essentially a hollow tube that acts as a straw. Silver appears to have been the most commonly used material. We have one up on Fleaglass. This one has a couple of unusual  features. For one thing it is fabricated from Ebonite (also known as “Vulcanite”: a hard rubber made by means of vulcanization). It’s most unusual feature  is its mechanism. Internally, it has  a valve consisting of a tiny Ebonite rod that drops down, Read More...