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Cased Surgical Sets |
The heyday of American-made surgical instruments was from the 1840's to the 1890's. Prior to that time, most instruments were made in Europe and imported to this country. After the turn of the century, once again European and specifically the German manufacturers pretty much took over the trade.
Displayed on this page are amputation and surgical sets by some of the most famous makers of the time. Of particular interest are those used in the Civil War which could be any set existing prior to the War or those made specifically and marked as such during that four year time frame.
From the private collections of Doug Arbittier
Click on any photo to enlarge it
| c. 1840's amputation set by Wiegand and Snowden of Philadelphia, Pa. Note the shape of the blade of the large amputation knives which have a curved downward shape. This shape is typical of the blades on early American surgical instruments after the Revolutionary War and before the Civil War. Click here for more information on blade anatomy and dating instruments. |
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| Another c. 1840's set by Wiegand and Snowden. This set has a very similar layout to the one above. The instruments have the same downturned tips and wide spines. The metacarpal saw has a slightly different handle and there is an unusual velvet cover to the saw blades in this set. A trade card for J.A. Barnes Jr. from Gessie Indiana. He dates to the 1880's but his father may have been a physician also, and it may have been his set. |
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| Civil War era set by Tiemann New York. This set has a trade label for the 63 Chatham street address. It is a petit size for a capital amputation and neurosurgical set. One of the trephines has an unusually small diameter and large length. Also making this kit unusual it the locking mechanism. |
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| Civil War era set for a civilian surgeon. This set is by Kern, Philadelphia as is the set below. Top inscribed "J.R. Blair" (research pending). Instruments for amputation and neurosurgery and similar configuration to the Kuemerle and Teufel sets above. |
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| Civil War era set by Kern, Philadelphia. This set has four layers and includes instruments for orthopedics, general surgery, and neurosurgery. Very similar to the Kolbe set above. This set includes the original sales receipt! click here for more photos and description. |
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| Fantastic and complete English Surgical Set by Savigny, ca 1800. This set was mainly for amputation. All instruments signed Savigny. Note the slight "downturning" to the blades of the knives and the unusual angle between the handle and blade on the amputation saw. |
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Click here to go to the Antique amputation saw collection
Later, c. 1900 surgical sets
| c. 1895, small leather cased amputation kit by W.H. Armstrong, Indianapolis, IN. Note sliding lock latched case, and all metal handle on the amputation saw denoting post-1880 sterilization concerns. There is no tourniquet, but rather a strap at this point in history. |
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| c. 1900, small leather cased amputation kit by Otto Helmond, Pitts. Pa. Leather exterior is rough and shows deterioration on the bottom half. Otherwise as shown in the photos. |
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Please click here to see the type of Items wanted for this private collection