American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

(A Private Collection - Research and Identification Project)

Civil War Era Surgical Sets, Surgeon's Swords & Images

Civil War Surgeon Education & Civil War Medicine Text-books

Established 1995      .   .   .     Dr. Michael Echols

As seen in: Military Images Magazine, American's Civil War Magazine, Warman's Civil War Collectibles, Antique Week, Northeast Antiques, Civil War Army Swords, Civil War Times Illustrated, various TV programs, Antiques & Collecting publications

 

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  c. 1864 Tiemann Surgical Set for Civilian Use 

The firm of George Tiemann Company, New York, was at the 67 Chatham St., New York address, shown on the maker label, from 1863 / 1864 until 1871.  This information in itself is not the sole reason to date the set at the earliest date range.  The style of the instruments, shape of the knife blades,  and the style and presence of the brass bands on the mahogany case point to the earliest date for this address.  This three tier with removable tray set was made early in the Civil War for civilian consumption.

George Tiemann cutler

1826-32: 35 Chatham Street

1833-55: 63 Chatham Street (manufacturer of scissors and surgical instruments beginning in 1841)

 

George Tiemann & Co. (George Tiemann, Frederick A. Stohlmann, and Edward Pfarre) surgical instruments

1855-63/64: 63 Chatham and 44 Eldridge

1863/64-71: 67 Chatham and 44 Eldridge

(George Tiemann died 26 September 1868; succeeded by Stohlmann and pfarre; fac­tory built at 81 & 83 Boerum, Brooklyn in 1871-72)

1872-86: 67 Chatham and 107 E. 28th (the latter site bore the name Stohlmann, pfarre & Co.; in 1882 Stohlmann and Pfarre were joined in Tiemann & Co. by their sons, C. Frederick Stohlmann, Louis G. Pfarre, and Julius A. pfarre)

1886-1900: 107 Park Row

Compare the mahogany case (16.5 x 4.25 x 5.75 in. lined with red velvet) of this set to a slightly earlier 1860 set.  Note the banding on the case.

Also, note the shape of the amputation blades of the two sets.  The delicate size and down curved shape of the amputation blades is typical of pre-1860 sets by Tiemann.  Down curved blades are typically pre-Civil War.   Thin, light handled, down curved blades are very typical during the transition from the heavier handles and blades of early 1850's to the start of the Civil War when blades became straight and the handles again much heavier.

The maker marks for Tiemann vary in this set as is typical for this era:  Tiemann; Tiemann & Co.  (See the introduction page 64 of the Tiemann catalog for a discussion of the various markings used during a given time frame.)

The style of the capital saw is typical of Tiemann Civil War sets.

The trephine has an early style beautifully turned horn handle, the Galt's style crown of the trephine is tapered and blued which would date the trephine to only as early as 1860 (page 92, Edmonson).

Click on any photo to enlarge

 

 

Removable tray

 

 

29 individual pieces make up this set

 

 

Tourniquet and heavy tissue retractors

 

 

Above: changeable suture needle tips and handle

 

 

Above left: Galt trephine;  Right: Parker style capital saw

 

 

Above left middle: (American) Bullet Forceps (fig. 1365 Tiemann catalog)

 

 

Above and below: four variations of Tiemann markings found in this set

 

Bandage material folded on cardboard

 

 

Needles, silver wire, and silk thread suture material on a glass spool

There are three instruments which are curiously not marked Tiemann or Tiemann & Co.  They are marked Kulman & Co.  The three are the metacarpal saw, which fits perfectly in the case slot (see photo below) and matches the other checkered instruments. The other two instruments have smooth hexagonal ebony handles and fit perfectly in the lift-out tray. One with removable tips for suturing, the other with a cutting edge tip (see photo below).  Both instruments fit perfectly in the slots. 

According to Edmonson, Kulman & Co. (Detroit, Michigan) did not exist until 1869, but the elder August Kulman was listed in business during 1867.  It  is entirely possible Kulman was supplying Tiemann with these instruments prior to this time.  His location prior to 1867 is unknown.   None of the instruments appear to be replacements because they fit 100% in the given slots, but the presence of the pieces is curious for a Tiemann set.  (Dates and maker information from Edmonson's book:  American Surgical Instruments: an illustrated history)

 

  

Close-up to show fit and mark of three Kulman instruments

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Medical Collections          

Direct links to all medical & Civil War collections on this site

American Surgical Sets:        Pre-1861:  1 | 2    -    Civil War:  4 | 5 | 6 | 7     -    Post-1865:  3 

Medical Text-Books:

1 | 1a | 2 | 2a | 3 | 3a | 4 | 4a | 5 | 5a | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9a | 10 | 11 | 12

Medical Lecture Cards:

1 | 2 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

Surgeon CDV Images:

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Medical Staff Swords:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

Hosp Dept Bottles & Tins:

1 | 2 | 3 |

 

Currently Seeking to Purchase for this Collection

Partial or Incomplete surgical sets or instruments by:  Snowden, Tiemann, Gemrig, Kolbe', Hernstein

 Any medical instrument or book marked:   U.S.A. / Hosp. Dep't.  or  U.S.A. / Med. Department

Medical Antiques Wanted List                             Contact Dr. Michael Echols

American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

This site is an active on-going collection and research project.  Additions are actively being sought.  Information and evaluations on pre-1865 material are gladly provided to individuals, universities, authors, archivists, museums, libraries, auction houses, antique dealers, and researchers. 

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("Braceface" is a term kids apply to other kids who wear braces.  Dr. Echols is a retired orthodontist)

 

Last update: Friday, March 12, 2010