North America Archives

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A marvelous 1914 US patent, number 1,106,626, for a Rube Goldberg-like umbrella “flying machine” that was issued to Hippolyte Marius Chiron on August 11, 1914. Despite the Wright Brothers having successfully flown in 1903 there were still inventors out there trying to come up with flying machines that were improvements on the Wright aircraft. This one likely never got off the ground but what a great looking contraption! Chiron was an inventor who did not limit his creations to Read More...

24 Aug

Timby’s Solar Timepiece

By Hatchwell Antiques

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Timby’s Solar Timepiece, by L. E. Whiting, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA, circa 1865. Annular paper dial around the globe showing the hours and minutes in Arabic numerals, a second enamelled metal dial showing the tens of minutes in Arabic numerals, mechanical brass movement, in a walnut case. The globe signed: Joslin’s six inch Terrestrial Globe Boston Gilman Joslin 1860. Height. : 68 cm. Width : 38.5 cm. Depth : 18 cm. Invented by Theodore Timby, and manufactured by Dr. Lewis E. Whiting. US Patent No. 39,183 Read More...

19 Aug

Camman 2nd-Model Stethoscope in Original Box

By M and R Gordon

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Camman2 in its original box. Instrument shows little, if any, evidence of use; the box has light wear. Frye was a well-known late-19th-century Maine maker and retailer of medical instruments. Read More...

06 Aug

Two C1850 Mechanical Bleeders, one by African -American gunsmith

By M and R Gordon

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Two C1870 Mechanical Bleeders. One in brass ($295.00), the other in German Silver ($495.00), the latter signed by maker, “M. MOXLEY”: likely, Meshach Moxley,* whose maker’s mark was “M. MOXLEY”. Both work but strong springs make them difficult to load. Both have compartments for extra blades. The German silver one has a chamois pouch with one blade in its compartment. Both about 4.75″. Given their size, they are likely veterinary. * “Meshach Moxley, probably [ worked] in Belfontain (Ross county) Read More...

29 Jul

19th century swift all made in whalebone

By Galerie Delalande Paris

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Rare swift entirely made of whalebone. Reference: Book “Ingenious Contrivances, Curiosly Carved” by Stuart M. Frank page 270. Dimensions: height 62 cm x total open diameter 71 cm. England or USA made in the XIXth century. Read More...

20 Jul

Camera Lucida for a Microscope

By M and R Gordon

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Early 20th-century camera lucida for a microscope. Last image shows similar camera lucida mounted on a scope. No makers’ mark evident. Condition: very good,including mirror. Read More...

03 Jul

The Dreadful Dalkon Shield IUD: Parous & Nulliparous

By M and R Gordon

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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.This IUD was offered in two sizes: one for woman who had given birth and one for women who had not. The former is $95,00, the latter $125.00. It soon became apparent that it was creating very serious health issue for some women who had received one. In 1974 it was Read More...

09 Jun

The Dreadful Dalkon Shield

By M and R Gordon

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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...

06 May

A Macabre Ink Eraser (AKA: Rubber) with Skull Finial

By M and R Gordon

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In the era of the quill and, later, the fountain pen, erorrs were erased by scraping off the dry ink. The instuments used for this purpose were called “rubbers”. They often appear on Ebay and other platforms described as bloodletting knives. This is an unsual example in that it has a finial in the form of a skull. One side of the blade is stamped “Landers. Frary & Clark”, a firm located in New Britain, Connecticut. The excerpt from Read More...

06 May

A Fine Set of MOP Dental Instruments with Dolphin Handles

By M and R Gordon

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A superb set of mid-19th century dental instruments with mother-of-pearl handles in the form of dolphins. The section in the center of the tray is a mirro, hence the reflections in the first image. Instruments of this type are seldom signed but SS white may well bve the maker. This tray of instuments was probably part of a larger set containing a MOP mirror, scissors and a variety of steel instuments. Read More...