Ophthalmoscope set, which consists of (a) a flat metal case that holds 29 separate magnetic lenses which are not entirely visible; this frame serves as a base of attachment having six adjoined parts: three round disks , a base, and two round-shaped mirrors; one side of the ophthalmoscope has the th…
Ophthalmoscope set, which consists of (a) a flat metal case that holds 29 separate magnetic lenses which are not entirely visible; this frame serves as a base of attachment having six adjoined parts: three round disks , a base, and two round-shaped mirrors; one side of the ophthalmoscope has the three disks in a row; from left to right, disk one is recessed into the base, with the second disk on the surface and third disk slightly higher than the second; disk one is smooth and circular with four circular-shaped magnifying lenses inserted into the metal on opposite ends; the disk has thatched edges and remains intact by a slot screw located in the centre which enables the disk to rotate freely; it has a circular-shaped sight hole punched in the metal with four glass lenses set in the metal; the second disk resembles a compass dial; it is a flat piece of circular metal with numbers stamped around the edges; a band of metal that covers the edges and spreads out into a key shape encases the flat piece of metal and enables it to move independently by a central pivot screw; the third disk has a thatched edged casing that curves upward at the rim to hold a thin, flat circular-shaped metal disk that has a slightly smaller diameter; the inner metal disk has 14 punched circles, equally spaced apart around the edge, each gradually larger in size, that have increments of one to five stamped beside the corresponding circle; a separate punched circle is located in the centre of this piece encircling two small pivot screws and one raised, tiny screw; all three disks are attached to a supportive back plate; located on the back of the ophthalmoscope are two circular-shaped mirrors that are attached to a flat piece of thin metal used as a secondary base; the first mirror is located on the front end; it is a two-sided mirror with a circle punched in the middle; it is flat and held into place by two metal prongs that run halfway around the edge of the mirror; the prongs are movable and set in place by a tension spring set that enables the prongs to move the mirror outwards so the sides of the mirror may be flipped; a similar mirror, smaller in diameter, is circular-shaped with a punched circle also located in the centre; it is tilted at a 45 deg angle and permanently held in place by a solid, blocked piece of circular-shaped metal which is attached to the the bottom of the mirror; the top of the blocked metal is also slanted at a 45 deg angle to accomodate the setting of the mirror; a metal ring with thatched edges encircles the mirror and stand; the main base of the ophthalmoscope has a threaded metal protrusion from the base plate used to attach to the handle; this entire piece attaches onto a smooth, tapered handle; the first part of the handle (b) is entirely metal with a hollow, threaded opening at one side; the outer surface is smooth and cylindrical with two grooves molded into the metal; the second part of the handle (c) is cylindrical and smooth and is made of bone; the top of the handle which attaches to its metal counterpart is cut straight with rough bone texture on the end; the other end consists of a cylindrical-shaped smooth metal piece with four oval-shaped punched holes, each gradually larger than the previous one; the numbers 1-4 are located in increments above each hole with "1" representing the smallest hole and "4" the largest; this metal piece is hollow with a wooden tube that has red, blue, green and yellow solid colouring painted on in a horizontal fashion; it rotates freely inside the metal pieces so the colour can be seen according to the size of the metal cutout; pieces (a-c) fit into (d) a purpose-built case; this case is rectangular in shape with a lid that is hinged at the back and has one metal clasp at the front; the inside of the case is lined with velvet and contains two dividers with an elastic attachment on inside of lid.
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - ophthalmoscope - Size: Length 12.0 cm x Width 3.3 cm x Depth 1.6 cm
b - metal handle - Size: Length 2.8 cm x Diam. 0.9 cm
c - bone handle - Size: Length 6.6 cm x Diam. 0.8 cm
d - case - Size: Length 11.9 cm x Width 6.3 cm x Depth 3.4 cm
Provenance
Used either by Dr. C. H. Bird or Dr. H. Godfrey Bird of Gananoque, Ontario.
The handle has the numbers 1-5 stamped on the outside; stamped on the lid of the leather case are the initials "J.J.D."; a rectangular lined border stamped around the initials is located midway between the initials and edge of case; slightly illegible from wear is a shield-shaped stamp, located centrally on the bottom of the case with the address "TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD LONDON"; on the front of the ophthalmoscope directly below the smaller concave mirror are the words, "Johnson & Sons London"; for measurement purposes, stamped into metal on disc containing magnifying lens are the numbers "5// + // 20 // 10 // - // 30"; the numbers "10 // 14 // 16 // 18 // 20 // 12 // 10 // 8 // 7 // 6 // 5 // 4 // 3 // 0.5 // 1 // 1 // .5 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // -" are stamped on middle disk; the numbers from one to ten are stamped in the metal next to graduated circular cutouts which are used for measurements
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E4-6
Condition Remarks
The case is fragile; ophthalmoscope is well-used and prone to severe breakage with consistent handling; #2: the case is damaged.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Reference Comments
"Illustrations of Surgical Instruments of Superior Quality," 21st ed., by the Kny-Scheerer Co., 1915, p. 3027 (similar to item C/-1966); "Aloe's Illustrated and Priced Catalogue of Superior Surgical Instruments, Physician's Supplies and Hospital Furnishings," the A.S. Aloe Co., 6th ed., St. Louis, 189-, p. 181 (item 4541)