American Civil War Surgical AntiquesPre-1865 Civilian & Civil War MilitaryCased Surgical and Amputation SetsCivil War Surgical and Surgeon Information
Established 1995 |
Consultations and Identification
Surgical sets & Medical text books
By Dr. Michael Echols
Evaluation advice about pre-1865 and Civil War American surgical antiques or medical text books similar to those on this web site are provided at no-charge. Requests for consultation or evaluation are welcome from individuals, museums, curators, archivists, auction houses, and antique dealers...again, there is no-charge for this service...but I need good photos and clear communication from you about what you have...email the details.
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Evaluation of pre-1865 medical textbooks: see evaluation of medical text books
Evaluation of leather roll-up pocket surgical kits: see evaluation of leather pocket surgical kits
Evaluation procedures listed below for wood cased surgical sets:
Who made the surgical set or instruments? I need the maker name and city or address if present. Is there a maker label in the interior of the set? If so, take a good focused photo of the label. And tell me exactly what is printed on the label: maker name, address and building number, etc.
See a maker label and mark examples
Please see the Digital Photo Hints and Examples of the kind of photos I need to help you
What maker names are imprinted on the instruments in a case? Are they all the same or are there different names? List the names or partial names of any makers stamped on individual instruments and email me the names. Use a magnifying glass to look carefully at all areas on the instruments to obtain the maker's name and any other information stamped on the flat areas of the instrument. Please take good clear photos if you cannot make out the name.
Take photos of all instruments seated in the case or kit. I need to know what is present and if the instruments fit the slots in the case. Empty slots indicate missing instruments. Please, Also take photos of all the instruments out of the case.
Are there obviously any instruments missing? If so please photograph the slots where you believe they are missing. Here are some photos of a set with various instruments identified in the set as an example:
See a display of instruments typically found in a Civil War era surgical set
If there is a brass plate on the top of wood case, is it engraved and with what words? If you can't read it, take a good clear focused photo as 1800's script writing can be difficult to read.
What are the dimensions of the wood case? Height, Width, Length? Take photos of the exterior and interior of the case. I need to see outside hardware like locks, brass plates, engraved writing.
" Please...There is no way I can help you without clear, focused, digital photos of your surgical set or instruments "
Please see the Digital Photo Hints and Examples of the kind of photos I need to help you
Please review your photos before you send them. Send them to yourself. If you can't see them clearly, neither can I.
Dr. Michael Echols
Fort Myers, Florida
Contact for email, phone, mailing