J. H. Gemrig was
a surgical instrument maker in Philadelphia, Pa. during 1840 to 1881 in various
forms (alone, with his brother, and with his son). During the Civil War,
Gemrig was a major supplier of surgical sets under contract to the Union
forces. His company was located at 143 N. 6th from 1840 to 1844, at 48 N.
6th from 1841 to 1844, at S. 8th from 1845 to 1880. Gemrig sets are wanted to
buy. All dates are from the
Directory of Makers and Dealers as listed by Edmonson in American Surgical
Instruments: an Illustrated History:
Jacob H. Gemrig surgical instrument maker
1841-44: 48 N. 6th
1845-49: S. 8th
1846-65: 43 S. 8th
1866-80: 109 S. 8th
This set belonged to doctor George Washington Crum, MD, who was born in 1811 and lived in Jefferson,
Maryland. His age at the time of the Civil War would most likely
preclude him from having served in the Civil War. He is not listed as a
Civil War surgeon. The set had been in the family until 2004, when I
purchased the set..
There are no Gemrig sets of this early vintage shown in Edmonson's text book on
American Surgical Instruments.
The set is unusual in its size
(16.5 x 9 x 2.5 inches) and the heavy construction
of the amputation knives. One knife, located under the tenaculeum, has
been shortened and reshaped, most likely due to breakage at some point during
use. Only the artery tweezers are missing. Even the blade on the small
metacarpal saw is original. The case is made of highly grained mahogany and still retains the
original key. The dark distortions seen on the saw blade are blood stains left
by failure to clean the metal after use at some point. Other distortions are simply the
reflections in the bright clean surface of the blades.
The tell-tale dating
signs of this early set are the curvature and shape of the knife blades, (curved
downward, and the blunt end on the larger blades), the purple velvet interior of
the case, and the shape of the capital saw. All these features and the
name "J. H. Gemrig" on many of the instruments points to the set dating during
the 1840's. It was made in
Philadelphia, Penn.
