Estate Coins & Currency, Vintage Women's Fashions, Vintage Medical and other Collectibles
Lot 99:
Description
A vintage medical diagnostic set manufactured by the Wappler Electric Co. of New York. The primary instrument is a May Ophthalmoscope, featuring a black-finished metal head with a rotating lens disk and a cylindrical chrome-plated battery handle. The head is marked with the patent date December 12, 1916, and a stylized caduceus logo. The set includes a Koch C 128 tuning fork of German manufacture, a reflex hammer with a rubber head, a metal tongue depressor, and three glass specimen vials with cork stoppers. The instruments are housed in a black pebbled leather case with a Kwik brand zipper. A secondary, smaller hard-shell case is included but is currently empty. The back of the ophthalmoscope head is hand-incised with the name DAWES, and the reflex hammer is incised with the initials A.K.A.Literal Transcription of Marks:Ophthalmoscope Head: MAY OPHTHALMOSCOPE WAPPLER ELECTRIC Co. NEW YORK, U.S.A.; PAT. DEC. 12. 1916; DAWESOphthalmoscope Handle: WAPPLER E.M.I. CO. N.Y.; TRADE MARK REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.Tuning Fork: KOCH GERMANY; C 128Reflex Hammer: A.K.A.Case Zipper Pull: KWIK.
Condition report:
The set shows significant signs of professional use and age. The ophthalmoscope handle exhibits visible pitting, oxidation, and plating loss. The black finish on the ophthalmoscope head is chipped in several areas. The rubber head of the reflex hammer is darkened and shows wear. The leather case is intact with scuffing to the edges, and the zipper remains functional. The electrical components of the ophthalmoscope are untested and require vintage-specification batteries. The secondary hard-shell case shows significant interior wear and is missing its original contents.
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