Hernstein U.S.
Army Trepanning Sets (2 sets: early and later)
A pair of rare and unusual
military trepanning sets by H. Hernstein, New York City, N.Y. The
first is the earlier, c. 1861, as it is marked with a trade label indicating
just H. Hernstein, N.Y. with the 393 Broadway address. The label also
indicates it is U. S. Army Hosp. Dept. issue. There is no trade label
in the second and later set. Both sets are marked 'USA'.
Hermann Hernstein surgical instruments
1843: 3
Chambers
1844: Elizabeth cor. Hester
1845-48: 7 Hague
1850: no listing
1851-52: 68 Duane
1853-54: 81 Duane
1855-57: 81 Duane and 393 Broadway
1858: 81 Duane, 131 Mercer, and 393 Broadway
*
1859-61: 131 Mercer and 393
Broadway
Hermann Hernstein & Son (Hermann and Albert L. Hernstein) 1862-65:
131 Mercer and 393 Broadway
Hermann Hernstein & Son & Co. 1865:
2 Liberty and 393 Broadway
Hermann Hernstein & Co. 1866-67:
2 Liberty and 393 Broadway
Reference:
Edmonson
The first set is engraved on the cartouche
with " U S A" and the label indicates the last year Hernstein would have
used this label, which is the first year of the War. The label also
indicates the set was produced under contract for the U. S. Army Hosp. Dept.
Missing from this set is the scalpel and the lenticular/rasp.
"H. Hernstein, N. Y, Surgical Instruments, 393 Broadway,
U. S. ARMY, Hosp. Dept."
Top: the earlier set. Bottom: the later set
Hardly any difference other than the upper set being fully
engraved, and the lower is not
The partition with trade label is present in the earlier
set, and is missing in the later set
The second trepanning set
was found with two other Civil War, USA Hosp. Dept. marked and engraved
sets. What is unique about the later set, is the fact the brass plaque is carefully
marked with an obvious drawing, but not actually engraved. It appears
that 'USA' was hand drawn on the plate with a thick ink, but it was never
engraved.
The 'USA' drawing is
under the original lacquer, which appears to be undisturbed on the whole set.
It is not a military set by the usual definition as there is a key escutcheon
and no sliding latches. So why the USA? I
suspect it was an unsold set and just left the factory un-engraved. ???
The mahogany, brass corner
reinforced case measures 2 1/4 x 3 x 9 inches for both sets. The scalpel and
bone brush are missing from the second set.
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