Snowden & Brother, Civil War Medical Department marked capital surgical set
Note: Field sets are smaller
and less extensive than Capital sets. Capital sets would have been in rear
areas or hospitals.
Snowden & Brother (George and Henry) were
one of the major suppliers to the U.S. Army before and during the Civil War.
This four layer capital set with both military latches and a key hole is from just
before or during the first year of the War. Judging by the amount of bloody use the set
shows, I think it is right out of the battle field. The brass plate is
engraved for the U. S. Army Medical Department. Medical Department sets
existed prior to and during the Civil War, so accurately dating the set is hard.
The marking 'Snowden & Bro.' at N. 5th, occurs only during and four years before
the War.
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Snowden or Snowden &
Brother sets are wanted for this collection... complete or partial sets and
instruments
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Snowden & Bro. (George P. [1832-?] and Henry C. [1838-?] Snowden become
partners I July 1858; William Snowden [1840
?]
becomes partner I January 1866; Henry C. retires in May,
1872
and sells interest to George) surgical instrument makers
1858-64: 15 N. 5th
1864-72: 23 S. 8th
(Edmonson)
Proof of dates:
The trick on this
Medical Department set is how to date it since there is no trade label
attached, The problem can be resolved by comparison with
another Snowden and Brother set which does have the trade label.
Here is a link
to a set of photos of an almost identical set which has a Snowden &
Bro. trade label. The trade label shows a North Fifth
address which only occurs with Snowden & Bro. This would
date this set to 1858-1864.
Given the amount of use, blood on the
instruments, and the unlikelihood of heavy use prior to the War during this
period, one could surmise the set was used during the War no matter when
it was bought by the Medical Department prior to 1864.
All four sections of the set
Below is the lower section of the set with contents
Above are the contents
of the covered box: needles, bone wax, and silver sutures
The tourniquet is not
marked
Below is the contents of the lower section of the upper half
of the set
Below are the contents of the lift-out tray in the upper half
of the set
Below is the contents of the lift-out tray of the lower half
of the set
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