North America Archives

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A fine example of Dench’s Improved Tuning Fork. Among its uses was hearing testing. Edward B. Dench, MD (1863-1936) was an eminent ear specialist and professor of otology at NYU and Bellevue. He was a prolific author of books and articles in this area. This is large (13.5″) and high-quality instrument with adjustable weights. It was made by Meyowitz and retains its original signed case with instructions. I Read More...

15 Apr

CAST-IRON STRING HOLDER:

By M and R Gordon

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C1900 medicine advertising string holder marked “SSS for the Blood”. From an old apothecary shop or chemist, used at counter to dispense string for parcel wrapping. Pot was hung by bale and string was pulled from hole on bottom. Bale is original & the cauldron may have had a repaint at sometime. Height: 4″ or 10cm ,with bale down. It weighs 3lbs From Wiki: “Charles Thomas Swift (December 10, 1846 in Morgan County, Georgia – December 30, 1890 in Atlanta) was a prominent Atlanta businessman who Read More...

11 Apr

Early 20th-Century Cased Ear Protectors

By M and R Gordon

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An early-20th century set of ear protectors. the case is stamped “SAFETY EYE & EAR PROTECTION CO, 26 CORTLAND ST, NEW YORK.” We can find no record of this company. An unusual form. Probably for use in shooting or in an factory setting. See image for condition. Read More...

11 Apr

Late 19th C. Nasal Snares

By M and R Gordon

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A pair of late 19th century nasal snares: one straight, the other angled–both in excellent condition. No maker evident. They were used for excising nasal polyps. The straight one measures 6″ (15cm) in length. Similar examples can be seen on the Wellcome Collection site, which they date 1866-1901: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co167007/nasal-polypus-snare Read More...

11 Apr

Early 20th C. Mosler Mica Spark Plug Paperweight

By M and R Gordon

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An early 20th-century advertising paperweight for Mosler Vesuvious spark plugs, consisting of an actual Mosler Vesuvious mica spark plug mounted on a heavy steel plinth. Height 2″(5cm) ; diameter of base 2″ (5cm). Mosler, working in New York City, was a pioneer producer of spark plugs. The plug on the paperweight is working example Wrenchwiki notes: “A R Mosler was an early manufacturer of spark plugs. Arthur R Mosler built a two-cycle engine in 1900. The engine would run well for Read More...

10 Apr

Spicer’s Infant Urinal by Sharp & Smith, Chicago

By M and R Gordon

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A very rare example of Spicer’s Infant Urinal by Sharp & Smith, which was “…used to collect urine specimen from infants. It would have been sterilized between uses.” S&S moved into their 65 E. Lake St address in 1929, so i would date this as having been made in the 1930s. The box is soiled and the is a small patch of slight roughness around the opening of the urinal. The box is 2″ or 5cm cube. Read More...

09 Apr

Bucklin’s Tool for Pivoting Watch-Wheels, Patented 1875

By M and R Gordon

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Frank S. Bucklin, of East Tilton, New Hampshire, received a patent on May 8, 1875 ( number: 164,714) for his tool for pivoting watch-wheels. It appears to be incomplete–see patent drawing and description. Length: 5.35″. Read More...

09 Apr

A C1900 Unused Box of Court Plasters

By M and R Gordon

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A C1900 Unused Box of Court Plasters. Dimension of box. 5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″. Dimensions of plasters: 3″ x 1.5″. A court plaster is:” an adhesive plaster especially of silk coated with isinglass and glycerin.” They were used in their day as band aids are used today. The box seems untouched. It contains 12 packets of about 20 plasters. The maker is Colin S. Few, working in Middletown, Pennsylvania Read More...

09 Apr

A Fleaglass for Fleaglass

By M and R Gordon

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A late 19th-century classic brass fleaglass. No maker’s mark. We’ve owned a couple of these previously, all found in the USA, as this one was. Length: 3″ or just under 8cm. Could be polished to a high shine but we normally leave instruments as found. No condition issues. Read More...

07 Apr

Early 20th -Century KNY-Scheerer Pocket Spittoon

By M and R Gordon

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Early 20th -century KNY-Scheerer nickel-plated pocket spittoon. Length: 4″, width: 2.5″ ; height: 1.5″. Early in the last century, when TB was rampant, the employment of such spittoons was encouraged as an alternative to public spitting. Read More...

07 Apr

Golden Gate Bridge Original Suspension Cables

By M and R Gordon

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Between 1972 and 1976, the cables were replaced on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, which had been completed in 1936. Some of the the removed cables were preserved and sold in 4 inch, seven-cable sections resting on a plinth. The wooden plinth is 4.75 inches in length. The cable is quite heavy: with the plinth it weighs close to five pounds! No condition issues. Read More...

19 Mar

14K C1920 Gold IUD

By M and R Gordon

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The London Science Museum has a similar device on their site, which they date c1920, but theirs is gold-plated brass not solid 14ct gold. Gold was less problematic because it is inert. They describe it as”A type of early intrauterine device (IUD) also known as a cervicouterine device or pessary. Curved disk with long coil stem attached to plate of disk. Coil opens into a wishbone shape with two arms. Arms are held together during insertion ( https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/jq085k79n) Prior Read More...