North America Archives - Page 3 of 14

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Roy Indestructible Cautery in its original signed case: patented in the US on December 20, 1892. Overall in good condition, noting that the rubber bulb and tubing have perished. Read More...

02 Sep

Wonderful and Rare Circa 1895 Gurley Engineers Solar Transit

By The Compleat Surveyor

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I believe this Gurley Engineers Solar Transit was made circa 1895. Gurley apparently did not sell many Engineers Solar Transits. I have some production information for solar transits on my Gurley Maker Webpage. The information is incomplete, but it is a good representation of what Gurley was selling. From 1878 to 1885, excluding 1879, Gurley sold a total of 207 solar transits. Of the 207 STs, Gurley sold 164 Light Mountain STs, 30 Surveyor STs, and 13 Engineers STs. So Read More...

02 Sep

1869 Gurley Solar Telescope Compass – One of Two STC’s Known (Updated)

By The Compleat Surveyor

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This is the only privately-owned Gurley Solar Telescope Compass (STC) known. For the reasons discussed below, the STC offered here should be a Top of The Bucket List item, and it is very unlikely that you will ever see another one offered for sale. Rarity Gurley apparently did not sell many STCs. Gurley started offering STCs for sale in its 1858 Catalogue, sold very few instruments of any kind during the Civil War Years (1861 to 1865), and then stopped selling Read More...

23 Aug

1920s Vit-O-Net Quack

By M and R Gordon

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We are offering a c1920s Vit-O-Net quack “magnetic” blanket in excellent condition–no moth damage, tears or fading. One side is flannel, the other cotton broadcloth. It was sold as a cure for a variety of ailments ,but in 1930 the US Federal Trade Commission issued an order preventing the company from advertising it as having any medical benefits, saying that it was an electric blanket–no more no less! Dimensions: 60 inches by 75 inches approx. “William F. Craddock et al Read More...

07 Aug

Coxeter’s Civil War Era Bullet Extractor

By M and R Gordon

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A fine example of Coxeter’s bullet extractor. Unsigned but identical to the example shown in the 1870 the Coxeter & Son’s catalog. The instrument was introduced by Coxeter at an earlier date. An example can be found in Weiss’s 1863 catalog. It was used for extracting Minnie balls not musket balls. The Coxeter catalog cut shows the instrument with a Minié ball in place. British instruments were used by both sides during the American Civil War. For a discussion Read More...

01 Aug

An unusual School or Pedagogical Andrew’s small Terrestrial globe, Chicago, circa 1880

By Le Zograscope

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An Unusual Andrew’s 13cm Terrestrial globe, American, circa 1880, the maker’s name printed ANDREW’S FIVE INCH TERRESTRIAL GLOBE, Manufactured by A.H. Andrews & Co., Chicago, Ill., the globe with hand colouring, hinged to open to hand coloured maps of the world. Alfred H. Andrews first produced globes from the 1860’s, after acquiring the Holbrook school apparatus company. Andrews became a prolific globemaker, producing globes ranging from 3 inches to 30 inches, primarily for schools and home education. The present example opens to Read More...

09 Jul

Tri-Valve Vaginal/Rectal Mechanical Speculum

By M and R Gordon

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As our images reveal, the 1889 Tiemann Armamentarium lists and illustrates (using the same image) this instrument as a tri-speculum for both rectal and vaginal use. Ditto for the 1879 edition. Our example has a wooden handle and is in very good mechanical and cosmetic condition. Read More...

27 Jun

~ A FINE WILLIS PATENTED PLANIMETER by ROBERTSON, NY~

By ScientificaOpticae

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A fine and cased Willis-type planimeter with rotating boxwood scales, blued steel slide for rotor, nickel/chrome arms capable of measuring 45 sq. in. at a time, instructions for use, original inspection tag, dated and serialized. Patent dates on axis/pivot point. Rarely used and in it’s original brown card case measuring 26 x 11 x 4 cm. (~10 x 4 x 2 inches). Sold for $20 then ($750 today). Read More...

26 Jun

~VERY GOOD ELECTRUM PROTRACTOR-K&E, NY~

By ScientificaOpticae

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A very good 6/7 inch electrum metal rectangular protractor with fully divided scales for degrees, inches, minutes, etc. Both English (Gunter) and American scales and conversions chart in lid of the pine, hinged case. End bruises on protractor (2 corners), otherwise fine and legible scales. Made/Patented by Keuffel and Essex of NY. Designed by George T. Keith. A most unusual instrument. Case measures 8 x 4 x 1/2 thick. Read More...

22 Jun

~KNY-SCHEERER Co. NY- TREPANNING BRACE AND BITS-EXTENSIVE~

By ScientificaOpticae

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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...

16 Jun

Sotheby’s Auction Catalogue, January 10 2001-The Magnificent Scientific Library of Joseph A Freilich (All book sales go to Medecins sans Frontiere charity)

By Fletcher

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Sotheby’s catalogue,475 pages, 569 lots, Fully illustrated Read More...

31 May

M37 Torpedo steering gyroscope

By Hatchwell Antiques

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M37 Torpedo steering gyroscope, USA, circa 1960. Naval Torpedo Station, Keyport, Washington. Height: 21 cm. Diameter: 15.5 cm. The Mark 37 torpedo is a 19″ diameter torpedo with electrical propulsion, developed for the US Navy after World War II. It entered service with the US Navy in the early 1950s. It was phased out of service with the US Navy during the 1970s. The guidance of a Mk37 was done by a gyroscope control during the initial part of its trajectory, where the Read More...