Catalog (58)

This is a fabulous opportunity to acquire a wonderful, Art Deco inspired, advertising, drug store sign featuring the title "SICKROOM NEEDS" embossed on front. This 1950s era piece once hung in a Grand Rapids, Michigan, pharmacy.

The black-painted, metal frame houses a plastic, cream-colored insert that features an embossed lettering and design technique that advertises the name of the product for sale. The background of this insert sports a streamlined, horizontal, raised "striping" reminiscent of the Art Deco era. When light is allowed to pass through the plastic, translucent insert, the insert appears to be magically illuminated so that the green-colored backside of the sign shines through with brilliance. This effect can be enjoyed by either hanging the sign in front of a window or by fastening tiny LED lights (not included) on the backside of the frame.

The dimensions are approximately 48"L x 5.5"W x 3/4"D, and the overall condition of the sign is very good. The plain metal frame has been repainted in a durable, semi-gloss, black finish. The painted finish is in very good condition with areas of minor surface imperfection and slight areas of roughness here and there.

The vintage plastic insert is laminated in two tones, with the front noting a rich, aged, cream color, and the back noting a rich green tone. The front of the insert has faint surface imperfections and some areas of uneven discoloring. The lower left portion of the letter "M" has a minor, small, unobtrusive crack. Overall, the insert retains a nice glossed surface patina commensurate with its age.

A note: the first photo best represents what the sign will look like when illuminated from the back with LED or natural window lighting.

This delightfully fancy, 19th Century, cast iron, physician's office sign marked "DR. JOHN LAGAN", once hung on a small building in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, California! It actually survived the famous earthquake of 1906!!

A treasure of early signage designed in the Art Nouveau style, this sign measures 46 inches long by 7 inches wide. The sign weighs at least 25 pounds and sports cast detailing seldom found!

The sign features a delightful and mellow patina with an old painted surface retaining traces of old blue coloring beneath the exterior battleship gray tones. Scattered areas of unobtrusive surface rust add to the wonderful appeal of this vintage sign.

Visually appealing and artfully designed, this vintage piece of signage would make an interesting addition to one's Medical Memorabilia Collection!

Measuring just 2 inches high, blown-in-mold, 19th century, clear glass bleeding or cupping glass is in excellent condition.

Extensively used in the 19th century and earlier, the cupping glass is a glass vessel from which the air has been exhausted by heat or suction creating a vacuum, and then applied to the skin to draw blood to the surface for therapeutic or curative purposes.

Offered is a wonderful, vintage 1920s, mini-drugstore, Hypodermic Medicine Traveling Case. Gone are the days when doctors would make home visits to their patients, but back when they did, portable, pocket-size cases such as this would be part of their treatment arsenal.

Measuring about 3.5 inches long, this case most likely contained medicines to help with treating chest pain. The pills were easy to dissolve in water, then filled into the syringe and quickly injected.

The case appears to be made of aluminum and opens perfectly (like a vintage cigarette lighter). The condition is very good with some scuffs, mostly on the top.

The 2.5cc size glass and chrome plated metal syringe is in very good condition, measures about 3 inches long, and sports a barrel that withdraws smoothly.

The six, EMPTY vials each have complete labels and corks and are in good condition. Three are from Eli Lilly, each labeled NITROGLYCERIN. The three others are from SHARPE AND DOHME and are labeled GLYCERYLIS NITRAS. There are no needles.

A very nice, 1920's piece of pharmacy and medical history.

Offered is cased, high-quality, vintage microscope slide stage. Precision manufactured by the Spencer Lens Company of Buffalo N.Y., this scientific instrument is in excellent condition. The stage fits perfectly into a velvet lined mahogany case and dates to the early 20th century.

The case measures 5.5" L x 5' W x 3" H. Hard to find microscope / laboratory tool of the trade.

The Spencer Lens Company was founded in 1895, but was actually a continuation of the earlier business originally established by Herbert Spencer in the 1840s.

Offered is a delightful, 19th Century, 2 case, 200 vial, Homeopathic Medicine set from EHRHART & KARL, Chicago, Illinois.

This scarce doctor's set is missing 13 vials and contains both CANNABIS INDICA & OPIUM medicines. The cases also contain labelled medicines such as: Agaricos musc., Aranea diadema., Berberis vulgaris, Glonoinuum, Kali carb, Uranum nitric, Variolinum, Mercur. sol., Kreosot plus many more vintage vials.

The majority of the 1.75 inch long vials sport tiny labels and corks which are also labeled. Choice examples such as these are quite scarce considering the inclusion of narcotics vials as well as the sheer number of total vials contained within.

The leather cases house 100 vials each and have folding sides and functional metal clasps. One folding flap from one case is missing, and in the same case, three flaps have separated due to honorable wear commensurate with age. The other case retains all of its flaps although there is some partial separation of all four flaps noted, again commensurate with the item's age and use.

The 2 cases measure approximately 7.5 inches wide x 1 inch deep x 3.75 inches high. The cases are a pebbled-grained leather. One case front closure flap is decorated with a fancy corner embossing.

A very nice find!

Measuring 12.5 inches wide by 8 inches high, this vintage, hand-painted on board, 1940's No Smoking sign is most emphatic in its message: "NO SMOKING MEANS NO SMOKING"! Most definitely a conversation piece! Fab visual display! Condition is good with paint wear to edges as seen in photos. Light pencil lines to guide the hand-painting are still visible on the front of the sign. (The left side of sign appears darker in photos than the right side. This is a function of less-than-perfect photography! Coloration and brightness are uniform throughout! No dark or shadowy areas!)

Offered for your consideration is a fabulous medical sterilizer fresh from a retired physicians collection. This nickel plated beauty is in fine shape and appears to be from the 1930-1940 era.

Measures 8 inches long x 3 inches wide x 5 inches high (including the knob). The embossed label is marked "MADE IN USA - CASTLE- STERILIZER". The lid is attached to the interior tray and articulates backwards to open or can be lifted off as seen it the photo. Please note that the electric cord was cut by the good doctor to fit inside his display cabinet.

Measuring a diminutive 2 inches in diameter, this intricately-detailed, colorfully lithographed, celluloid-faced advertising pocket mirror is in mint condition!

The pastoral image features a country maiden leading a cow from the woods while holding a can of Horlick's Malted Milk.

Imprinted on the cow's side is the following, "Ask for Horlick's at all Fountains and Hotels."

Around the circumference of the mirror, the product is further advertised:

"This maiden fair was dressed in silk,
She drinks the Horlick's Malted Milk."

" Tea of coffee it does replace,
In Health or Sickness,
Wins the Race."

Original mirrored backing is in very fine condition with just a few very minute , superficial scratches. Marked in microscopically written print ob bottom edge: The Whitemead & Hoag Company, Newark, New Jersey.

A beautiful little advertising piece!

Offered is a very rare, highly ornate and meticulously detailed, 1887, medicine advertising mirror made for the G.G. Green Pharmaceutical Manufacturer of Woodbury, New Jersey. It features 3 PATENT MEDICINES, patent-owned and offered by Surgeon, Colonel G.G. Green. (brief Bio below)

This gorgeous advertising mirror was gifted to select pharmacists who were required to sign a contract promising to consistently offer the particular Green's medicines that were imprinted on the mirror's frame: Green's August Flower, Ague Conqueror, and Boschee's German Syrup.

The frame measures 21" square with an elaborately embellished decorative face of embossed detailing and is constructed of a plaster-based material. The name "G.G. Green, Woodbury, NJ" is prominently embossed on the bottom portion of the frame.

The frame's construction remains quite sturdy. The overall condition is good with some restoration required, if so desired, to the missing pieces as seen in the photos. The missing pieces cause minimal distraction from the beauty, intricacy and rarity of this frame. The mirror had been replaced at some point prior to our ownership.

A brief biography: Colonel George Gill Green served as a Union surgeon during the Civil War and later became a manufacturer of patent medicines. He reached millionaire status after buying the rights to Ague Conqueror, Boschee's German Syrup and Green's August Flower and then, successfully marketing their use. A local philanthropist, he provided the funding for the construction of Woodbury's Opera House. He also built the G.G. Green Manufacturing building, and both structures are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Offered is a very scarce, C1920's, Sharpe and Dohme Hypodermic Portable Medicine Case that slides open to reveal 6 corked, empty vials. This delightful diminutive medical or pharmacy item measures 3 inches long, is made of leather, and sports 6 circa 1900, Sharpe & Dohme labeled medicines.

The interior of this piece has a cleverly designed metal sliding mechanism which served to both open and prop-up the case. The condition of the case is very good, with the mechanism sliding easily, and the gold Sharpe & Dohme, BALTIMORE, label displaying quite clearly. There is one, unobtrusive, 1/2 inch, ancient flaw or fleck on the case just to the left of word "Baltimore".

Five of the six vials have the word "POISON" in red ink. The drug names are as follows: NORMAL SALT - NITROGLYCERIN - ATROPINE SULPHATE - STRYCHNINE SULPHATE - DIGITALIN - MORPHINE SULPHATE.

A fabulous find for you Pharmacy Folks!

Offered is a lovely, antique, late 19th C, hand-held massaging tool. This skillfully turned hardwood handle and frame features four wood and rubber rollers which facilitate massaging technique. Many modern hand-held massaging tools mimic the design of this antique piece.

Research notes that this early medical instrument was made by the Health Culture Co.

The following patent date is stamped on the interior portion of the wheel (PAT'D APR 12, 02), however, the date of 1892 is also referenced for this particular piece in several sources, so this device appears to have been marketed prior to the granting of a patent for the design.

Measures approximately 5 1/2" x 7 1/2.

Condition is very good! This visually interesting piece retains its original finish which is a warm, honey-colored woodtone with minor stains and wear commensurate with an antique instrument. No damage. It works!!!

Offered is very stylish and hard to come by license plate topper from the 1950-1960's era.

This piece is quality-made of heavy, stamped aluminum formed in the shape a shield and embellished with brass letters "MD" and a caduceus emblem. The topper, quite importantly in emergency situations, identified the driver of the vehicle as a doctor.

This measures 5.5"W x 3.5"H not including the mounting bracket. The topper is in very nice condition and sports a patina commensurate with age. Not often found in this lovely condition.

Ready for your collection!

We are excited to offer this handsome, traveling, doctor's apothecary medicine chest from the 1870-1880 era.

This fine, walnut, twenty-five compartment case houses twenty three medicine bottles, most of which are embossed FRASER & CO, with a few marked FRASER. A total of seventeen of the bottles sport original, early labels. Three other bottles have hand-written labels, and the remainder are unlabeled- one of which has no embossing. There are a total of six amber bottles, two of which are corked and without labels, while four are complete, inclusive of paper labels. Some of the bottles are partially filled with tablets. Please see photos to view the various medicine labels, one of which is OPIUM.

The walnut cabinet measures 11" W x 10.5" D x 6.25" H, and is in nice condition with a split on the front top that can be restored if desired. The finish has a lovely, warm patina, and the brass escutcheon bears just the right amount of oxidation. A wonderful addition to any collection!

Offered for your consideration is a vintage, all-original, framed paper advertising sign for the cure of Gonorrhea, Gleet and Syphilis in men. Of interest is the matching 10.5" x 7.5" wood frame with the lightly stamped word "OKAY" on the top. This unusual piece of advertising dates to the early 1900's.

Condition: Mild, unobtrusive wear to the paper. The blue round label is affixed to the glass, not the actual paper. The frame retains 2 early holes used for hanging along with various surface dings and an early slice of wood missing from the right side of frame.

Historically, Pabst's Okay Specifics was cited by the 1906 FDA Act for various violations including failure to mention alcohol content, having no known curative ingredient, etc, resulting in frequent seizure and destruction of the product!

Offered is recent find from a rural Virginia estate. This is great, 19thC, Country Dentist Dental lot sports three Tooth Keys plus 40 bone handled dental tools. Additionally, there are 13 dark wood dental tools and one ABALONE hand instrument. Other items include a NEY'S GOLD SHELL INSTRUMENT, S.S.W. COPPER AMALGAM box with partial contents, a sharpening file, 4 different size tweezers, and one horse tooth! This Country Dentist apparently extracted more than just human teeth!

The dental instruments are housed in a 19thC box with a lift-out compartment and a drop-down tray, as well as a hidden compartment, all of which are found in the top lid. While not a "labeled" dental item, the box and tools were paired together as a single unit upon discovery, and the combination box and tools actually display quite nicely! The photographs note other miscellaneous items which are original to this collection and are in fairly good, as found condition.

The 3 TOOTH KEYS include 2 with bone handles and are complete and in very good condition. The dark wood handled TOOTH KEY is complete, but its KEY needs to be re-pinned. The 3 keys measure approximately 6 inches long.

The bone-handled instruments are all intact and functional except for two, which appear to have their tips missing. There are a few tools with minor handle splits and two with an ancient wire repair to the handle. The tools show honorable wear such as faint surface wear and imperfections including original patina on the handles and some faint pitting and minute surface rust on the metal components.

The hardwood-handled dental tools are in good condition commensurate with early, used, dental tools.

The handsome, cloth-lined, 19thC, wood case sports a worn, leather and tack-embellished surface and includes a removable, interior tray plus an additional compartment in the top. It measures 19.5" L x 10"W x 5.5"H and is worn but is in structurally, quite good condition. There is no key, and the latches are a bit difficult to open.

The NEY'S GOLD SHELL INSTRUMENT is in very good condition. The S.S.W. COPPER AMALGAM box is complete but worn.

Overall, a very comprehensive and interesting collection of dental tools once used by a rural, Virginia dentist, perfect for your dental artifact museum display!

THIS ITEM ON HOLD 12/16/2020,

Early laboratory equipment is a challenge to find but search no more! Offered is an exceptional, very scarce, mid-Victorian, wooden, laboratory funnel stand. This circa 1870s funnel stand is constructed entirely of hardwood sporting a wonderful surface patina.

This fully-adjustable stand measures 17 inches high and can be completely disassembled for storage and transport. The base measures 9 inches long x 4.25 inches wide and has a beveled edge.

The condition of the stand and screw mechanism is very good with some stains and honorable wear commensurate with the age and use of a 150 year old, scientific antique.

*****PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EARLY GLASS FUNNEL PICTURED IS FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE OFFERING AND/OR SALE OF THIS LABORATORY FUNNEL STAND*****

Reading "SAFETY FIRST" "EMERGENCY SHOWER EYE BATH", this green, white and black painted sign dates to the 1950's and was likely meant for use in either a professional or academic laboratory.

The sign measures 14 inches wide x 10 inches high, and is quite bright and visually appealing.

This painted metal sign remains in fine condition with minor surface scratching, tiny areas of paint loss and tiny areas of superficial rusting, all as noted in photos.