Catalog: Archives: Instruments and Implements (59)

Offered is a circa 1920s, four-tier, clear glass Apothecary Show Globe. Stacking show globes such as this have always been a highly sought after apothecary artifact for those building a venerable collection of old pharmacy items. This lovely, 26 inch tall example is a visual statement piece- one to be admired for years to come.

Each individual globe sports ground glass construction and each fits into position with perfection. The interior of all sections is sparkling clear with almost no trace of staining, a problem which is often seen in such pieces, but not here.

The only flaw is a very small surface crack in the large globe as seen in the photos. This does not effect structural integrity as the globe holds water with no leakage whatsoever. This imperfection, in fact, is not visible when the globe is filled with water. It can also be easily hidden by positioning this side of the globe facing towards the back of one's display. Simply a faulous piece!

Offered for sale is a 19th century, medium-sized, apothecary pharmacy bottle sporting “PULV. CANEL. ALB.” on the label under glass label!

The 8.25 inch tall bottle is marked on the base, “WN WALTON PAT. SEP 23 1862”, and is of early blown glass construction. The fancy, recessed applied label is complete and is in very nice condition. The stopper is of ground glass construction and is in very good order as well.

The inside of the bottle is 1/3 full of a light brown powder. Very nice indeed!

Offered is an absolutely wonderful, giant-sized, 1960's, dental toothbrush which once served as an advertising display piece for "DR. WEST'S MIRACLE TUFT" toothbrushes!!

It measures a mammoth 18 inches long and is perfect for display in any dental collection, including in the dentist's office!

The condition is very good with some scratches and unobtrusive bent bristles (perhaps it was slightly used by the Jolly Green Giant??).

A truly unique and quite amusing dental display piece!!! A terrific conversation starter or fun teaching tool!!!

Offered is an exquisite, Victorian era, barber shop shaving mug sporting a highly decorated label-under-glass owner's nameplate, which has been recently acquired from a South Carolina estate.

This exceptional, shield-shaped label is executed in a rare and strikingly colorful design that was certainly a special order item for its owner, JOHN E. MATTES.

The condition of the porcelain mug is excellent! It is embellished with mildly worn gold gilt paint on the rim that coordinates with the gold adornment also on the label. This visually-striking label has mild loss, tiny chips and subtle cracks as noted in the photos. The shaving mug measures 4 inches tall x 3.5 inches in diameter at the top. A gem that is worthy of the most advanced barber shoppe collection!

The inhalation of medicinal vapors was common practice during the late 19th and early 20th century. Inhaling devices came in many shapes and forms. This very decorative and functional inhaler was very popular during that period. I have seen an earlier and rare, boxed VapoCresolene example from the 1870's, and it was not as decorative as this lovely late-Victorian-styled inhaler. It is complete and comes with it's very detailed box which sports information on its many merits.

The box measures 6.5" H and has some unobtrusive hand writing on the front panel. It is also missing the bottom though displays perfectly. The lamp is in original condition, complete and has a wonderful patina.

This extraordinarily difficult to find pharmacy “IDEAL CAPSULE FILLER” was used by early 20th century druggists in the Pierce Pharmacy, Hartford, Connecticut.

The machine was successfully developed to increase a pharmacist's capsule production. The patent date is stamped Oct. 31, 1905, and the direction guide is marked "Baltimore Capsule Co." The capsule filler has a filling plate with 4 parallel rows of 24 holes and each row was made for 2 different size capsules.

The condition of this wonderful apothecary tool of the trade is very good, complete with the warm, rich patina one would expect of an antique of this age including the usual scratches, marks and unobtrusive dings and tarnish. The metal parts appear to be nickel plated, and the wood base looks like walnut. The filler measures approximately 13”L x 4.5”W x 4.5” H.

The accessories appear to be complete when compared to the images seen in the guide that is included.

The interior has traces of residue from the sand that was used to stabilize the box when in use.

A must addition for any pharmacy/apothecary collection.

Please check my website often as this and many other vintage pharmacy items from the Pierce Pharmacy will be posted in the coming weeks. (Circa 1960 PHOTOS of the Pierce Pharmacy are NOT INCLUDED in the sale.)

Offered for sale is a wonderful 19th century brass and wood English Apothecary Balance Scale. This lovely balance retains its original patina on both the wooden base and brass scales.

The arm is marked "T.O.Co. J. HALL & SON-Makers-Birmingham" and "Class 1 - To Weigh 1 lb."

The scale measures 16"L x 8"W at the wood base and 16 inches high. The condition appears original with only minor distortion to the wood base.

Offered for sale is a stunning 1920's, Art Deco, Apothecary Show Globe with stand.

This beautiful pharmacy display is in very nice, all-original condition including the lovely sculptured glass finial with stopper!

The show globe measures about 21 inches high and and is capable of holding the colored water if so desired! The finial's ground stopper retains its original rubber cork and smoothly fits into the ground neck of the globe. Very minor interior hazing of the finial is present.

The sleek architectural lines of the show globe's stunning aluminum stand exemplifies the epitome of Art Deco design! Some very faint wear and use imperfections commensurate with its age are noted. Slight interior blue haze line noted by the upper portion of globe.

So very difficult to find in this all-original condition complete with finial and stand. A simply gorgeous and iconic Art Deco drug store advertising display piece!

Offered for your consideration is an outstanding and rarely found, circa late 19th century, black and gray painted wooden UNDERTAKERS sign!

The sign measures approximately 6’ long x 12" wide and is double sided. It is in very nice overall condition except for areas of paint loss, some crackling and general wear expected of a vintage sign, noted especially to one side. There is also a very subtle bow to the sign, but this does not take away from its most unusual appeal. There are 2 metal brackets, one on each side, which were originally used for mounting upon a building exterior.

A highly unusual and macabre offering for those who collect funerary pieces!

This beautiful mahogany wood, glass encased pharmacy beam balance scale dates to the 1900-1920s era. It is in very nice condition with the wood case exhibiting a warm colored original patina. The brass scale weighing mechanism is in working order and the sliding front glass panel lifts smoothly. Marked “Made in Germany – Schaar”.

The case measures 16"H x 16"W x8”D. Displays wonderfully!

Offered is a choice, 19th century, physician's, Homeopathic Medicine Case, a nearly complete example containing 147 of the original 150 corked vials!

Each vial measures approximately 1.5 inches in length including the cork. The vials are nestled in the leather case, and each vial sports a small paper label. The fitted case measures 10.5" long x 2" wide x 3.5" high and shows wear commensurate with age and use. Modest wear and loss to the flap closure is noted with general wear and mild loss of material.

A wonderful representation of late 19th century homeopathic medicine!

Offered is a wonderful, circa 1920s, hanging, Apothecary Show Globe fashioned in the Art Deco style, complete and all-original. Very often hung in the front window of the local drug store to attract customers, these show globes were frequently filled with colored water to add extra depth and interest to their sculpted appearance.

Condition of this fabulous piece is quite fine. The interior of the globe and finial note some faint, scattered, age-related haziness. While the large globe has absolutely no damage, the decorative finial has a few mild chips to its ground glass base as noted in the photo, that are completely invisible when the finial rests perfectly in place inside the neck of the globe.

For perspective, the globe with finial in place measures about 16 inches tall. The total height as measured from the globe base to the point where the 3 chains terminate at the bracket is 32 inches. An additional 19 inch chain was added by the previous owner.

A noted feature of this globe is the original and very handsome, decorative, metal bracket which supports the globe in a fancy, Art Deco style frame. The delightful hanger rounds out a wonderful example of the "architecture" of pharmacy history of the 1920s. The condition of the globe frame, chains and support bracket is good with the light wear and mild loss of finish expected of an approximately 100 year old piece. The wall hanger is in excellent condition with minimal surface imperfections.

An exceptional opportunity to purchase a visually striking, Art Deco styled Apothecary Show globe in complete and all original, an advertising piece of a bygone era certain to become a central focal point of any apothecary, pharmacy or drug store collection!

Offered is a extremely rare, 19th century, pharmacy apparatus for filling and sealing cachets which generally contained bitter "curative" powders.

This device is French and is called the CHAPIREAU'S CACHETEUR. The box houses fillers, compressors, a moistening dish, and an automatic handle used for holding and ejecting the filled cachet. Additionally, the 12 nickel-plated molds are housed on the underside of the box lid.

The maple box measures 9.5"L x 4.5"W x 3"H, and the automatic handle is a diminutive 3.25" tall.

Antique, early pharmacy implements such as this rarely survive due to their heavy, everyday use. To find such a device in this condition is a scarcity!

I am pleased to offer this latest acquisition direct from a pharmacy collection in Delafield, Wisconsin. This lovely 19th century hand blown clear glass apothecary show globe is a rarity indeed!. The condition of the glass is wonderful with no chips or cracks noted with only minor faint interior water remnants seen. The sculptured finial has some unobtrusive scratches noted.

There are 3 pieces to the 33 inch show globe with the base being molded to the bottom globe, the decorative middle section and the finial. The base has an open pontil mark and all stoppers are ground glass which fit perfectly.

A similar example can be found in SCHIEFFELEINS 1883 catalogue and is listed as a “Pineapple Show Globe”.

An original 1940s photograph showing the globe on display in the front window of Delafields pharmacy is included. C.J. Cather, R. Ph., was the proud pharmacist owner of this great drugstore display.

A point of clarification: the hand-blown finial ends in a solid ground stopper- very, very rare- thus, it cannot be filled with color water. However, both the bottom and middle globes can each be filled with a different color liquid if so desired.

A great find indeed!

Offered for sale is a fabulous, Henry Troemner of Philadelphia, oak and pink marble balance scale from the late 1800s. Balances such as this were known as BOX or COUNTER scales and were used in pharmacies to weigh drugs and other items.

The brass pans and scale are marked “Henry Troemner” Philadelphia. His company began making balances in the USA in 1840, and was singularly, the most successful scale maker of his day.

The scale measures approximately 20 inches long x 9 inches wide and is in excellent condition. The oak wood case is designed in the handsome Eastlake style and retains its original honey colored finish. The pink marble top and brass pans round out a near mint 19th century scale!

Difficult to find in this condition!

Offered is a complete Civil War Era traveling Doctor Medicine Case recently acquired from an estate in New Hampshire. The supple leather case houses 20 corked vials sporting vintage paper labels including some with partial contents. The condition is very good considering the age. There are minor areas where a mouse nibbled on an edge and some unobtrusive areas of loss due to ancient tiny insects nibbling on the strap.

The leather case measures 6"L x 4"W x 1.5"H and the corked bottles are just about 3" without cork. No damage to the glass.

This wonderful pharmacy prescription scale dating to the early 1900s is in very nice condition! The scale box is finely constructed of oak and the balance beam scale comes with 5 small brass weights. The weighing mechanism works like new, in fact, there is not much wear apparent indicating minimal use and loving care over the years.

The oak case measures 11.75"L x 5.5"W and has a rich warm patina with very minor staining to the top. Displays wonderfully!

Offered is a highly scarce Pair of 19th Century, Pill + Capsule Counters that would have been used in the early apothecary shop. They are constructed of wood and have been formed into a paddle shape. They are so unusual, that they rightfully belong in a museum dedicated to preserving the history and practice of the early drug store.

These wonderful tools of the trade measure 12 inches for the capsule counter and 11.75 inches for the pill counter. The front of each device is tapered to facilitate the ability to "scoop" the pills from a tray.

Please note that there is some edge wear on each counter commensurate with age and use. The handles are painted and have evidence of appropriate wear. Overall, the counters sport perfect patina and offer stunning visual appeal!