University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
General Treatment
Home Health Care
Quackery
Classification
General Treatment
Home Health Care
Quackery
Accession Number
1978.17.1
Description
Carrying case covered with black keratol has an attached lid with attachments for seven glass applicators (one missing); there is a control panel on the base with a compartment for the electrical attachments: one for a plug, one for Bakelite attachment for glass applicators, two connectors; one fac…
Carrying case covered with black keratol has an attached lid with attachments for seven glass applicators (one missing); there is a control panel on the base with a compartment for the electrical attachments: one for a plug, one for Bakelite attachment for glass applicators, two connectors; one face applicator, one roller massage applicator, one cylinder applicator, and two hand-held sponge applicators; the other side contains the violet ray unit.
Number Of Parts
15
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Mrs. W. Jackman of Toronto.
Printed on ribbon: "Branston Violet Ray High Frequency Generator"; violet ray unit: "Manufactured by // Chas. A. Branston // Comp. // Toronto // Canada"; on a dial on the unit is "Sinusoidal // controller".
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-L2-4
Temporary Location
On exhibit “Selling Hope: A History of the Medical Marketplace” at Museum of Health Care, 29 June 2017.
Length
41.5 cm
Width
28.0 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Base box only
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Website
Reference Comments
Grey Roots Museum and Archives: https://greyroots.pastperfectonline.com/bycreator?keyword=Chas.+A.+Branston+Company
Research Facts
Used in the treatment of skin diseases, eye problems, vaginal and uterus problems e.g. neuralgia of the uterus or ovaries, inflammation of the bladder, and in cases of delayed or painful menstruation; treatment of rectal problems e.g. stricture, hemmorrhoids, piles, rectal abscesses and all catarrhal conditions of the intestines; also used for spine ailments, hay fever, lung and bronchial troubles, anemia, appendicitis, arteriosclerosisl, atomic dilation of the stomach, baldness, birthmarks, brain fog, breast development, Bright's Disease, burns, catarrh, chronic ulcers, deafness, diabetes, dyspepsia, insomnia, gray hair, gout, obesity, and a wide range of other ailments; a letter to Dr. Shulman from G. Bell, curator, explains the material value of the Branston Generator: "I would expect to pay about $30 for this kind of item. The relatively low value of this object can be attributed to availability and to lack of interest in the market." (Dated Dec. 11, 1979); John Senior's letter of acknowledgement to Dr. Shulman states, "This instrument will be of great interest when we next feature displays on medical quackery."
The Chas. A. Branston Co. manufactured x-ray and electro-medical devices in the early 20th century. Before this, Charles Branston manufactured radios at Buffalo, New York, in the early 1900s, and appears to have maintained that operation at least as late as 1926. When he began his operations in Toronto, Ontario, is unknown, but in a Canadian patent application of September 1919 (#200714) for a vibrator for high frequency electro-medical apparatus, he stated he was "of the City of Toronto." A further patent application (#217323), in March, 1921, (patent issued 1922) shows the owner as The Charles A. Branston Company. In 1920, the company operated out of Toronto, Ontario at 355 Yonge St.