North America Archives - Page 6 of 12

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A fine set of Murphy’s bone drills and universal brace with multiple additions from the KNY Scheerer catalogue of 1915. Used for trepanation, this nickel set was $42.50 without the additional 6 reamers (at $3.50 each), the extra bits (elevator, etc.) and the 10 bone plates (some blued, others plated @ $.50 each) totalling close to $100 at that time. Factoring in for inflation and depreciation of the US dollar, this equates to $3000 US today ! Wooden finger jointed Read More...

08 May

Late 19th C. Bausch & Lomb Microscope Camera Lucida

By M and R Gordon

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A late 19th cased camera lucida for use with a microscope by Bausch & Lomb in its original signed case. The back of the mirror is also signed and both pieces have the same serial number. Instrument is in excellent condition. The case shows restoration, including the hinge, which is in working order. Length of case: 7.25 inches or 18cm approx. Read More...

08 Apr

Hermann’s 1907 Patent Surgical Instrument Holder

By M and R Gordon

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A very rare example of Hermann’s surgical-instrument holder, which was patented in the US on October 8, 1907, and is so marked. This finely crafted case and holder includes all the instruments necessary for minor surgery. It could be carried in a doctor’s bag, pocket or key ring and was easily sterilized. Each instrument could be removed from the holder and inserted in the holder, which also served as a handle–see third image. It is complete and in excellent Read More...

22 Jan

The Sum-Up Slide Rule, The New Amazing Slide Rule

By Fletcher

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“Your Calculations made a Pleasure Instead of a Headache”-Uncommon American Slide rule in good condition with original envelope and paper instruction sheet-adds,subtracts,converts fractions of an inch, decimals of an inch, millimeters. Made by the Sum-Up Slide Rule Co. New York. Read More...

16 Jan

The Lightning Portable Adding Machine with Automatic Clearance

By Fletcher

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An example of the Lightning Adding Machine in unused condition, with original box,instructions, stylus and desk stand-made by the ‘Lightning Adding Machine Co. Inc Los Angeles, California Read More...

12 Jan

Palmer’s Computing Scale

By Fletcher

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An example of Palmer’s Computing scale,heavy duty card in good condition-with a rather scruffy but complete set of paper instructions. The cover is very distressed and and the spine is detached. inserted in the cover is an unrelated chsrt ‘analytical table of mechanical movements’. The cover is embossed ‘Fuller’s Computing Telegraph’ Read More...

10 Jan

Soresi’s 1924-5 Patent Blood Transfusion Apparatus

By M and R Gordon

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A rare example of Soresi’s arm-to-arm transfusion apparatus, for which he held two patents (see links below): one issued in 1924 and the other in 1925. Unlike the Braun apparatus, which was produced in large quantities for the German military during WW2),and which we see frequently offered on the Internet , the Soresi apparatus was not widely used by the US military and few examples seem to have survived. The one we are offering is largely complete, as a Read More...

10 Jan

Early brass Stadimeter, WWI era – Keuffel & Esser Co, New York, 1918

By Archipel

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Early stadimeter made of brass in full working order. It’s complete with box of mahogany and adjustment instructions in the lid. That the instrument is made of untreated brass, the case is made of mahogany and the no. 352, indicates that it is a very early instrument. Felt has not yet been used. The stadimeter or optical range finder, was developed in the 1890s by Bradley Allen Fiske and designed to determine the distance to other warships. Like a sextant, Read More...

23 Dec

Instruments of Science, an Historical Encyclopedia

By Archipel

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This authoritative work on the history of scientific instruments brings together information from hundreds of primary sources and specialized studies. Written by 223 scientists, instrument designers, and historians, the Encyclopedia’s 327 entries cover instruments from the dawn of science to the present and examine devices designed for cutting-edge research. For each instrument it is explained how a device works, how it is used, who developed it and what it looks like. The Encyclopedia is the first reference work to Read More...

29 Nov

A late 19th-century esthesiometer

By M and R Gordon

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A late 19th-century esthesiometer , likely a variant of Sieveking’s model, similar to the one used by Cesare Lombroso in his influential study “Criminal Man” (1876)–see third image, which is taken from his book. Lombroso believed that criminals had a higher threshold for touch and pain. Using an esthesiometer, and other devices, he claimed to have confirmed this. Esthesiometers are currently part of the neurologist’s armamentarium. In very good cosmetic and mechanical condition. Quoting from Wiki: “An esthesiometer (British spelling aesthesiometer) is Read More...

26 Nov

Early 20th Century brass US Navy Sextant with silvered scale

By Archipel

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Very fine and complete US Navy sextant of black painted brass. Mahogany case with dovetailes, lock and little key, brass carrying handle an so on. The inside has a baize-covered lid and bottom. The case is marked with the number 442. Silvered scale, graduated from -5 to 153 degrees, set in a brass arc. The scale of the sextant is marked with S on the left side and with D 442 on the right side. Serial number of the Read More...

14 Nov

~RARE MORTON TOULMIN ELLIPSOGRAPH~

By Scientifica Opticae Inc.

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Ellipsograph patented July 6, 1875 in Washington D.C. by Morton Toulmin and made by Watts & Co. Baltimore, MD. on a decorative mahogany plinth to protect the six offset spikes and the pencil stylus. The two primary steel beams are fixed to brass end plates terminating in offset steel spikes to secure the device to paper below and a draftman’s desk. The two fully adjustable and moveable secondary steel beams (trammels) are controlled by a central pivot, hand operated by Read More...