Lot 174: A Philip Harris Ltd. Mid-20th Century Brown Leather Doctor's Bag and Assorted Medical Contents
A mid-20th century Gladstone style doctor’s medical bag manufactured by Philip Harris Ltd. of Birmingham. The bag is constructed from brown textured leather with a stitched leather handle and a metal frame featuring a central locking clasp mechanism. The interior is lined with a cream-coloured heavy canvas fabric, which bears a black stamped maker’s mark for Philip Harris Ltd. Birmingham. The bag contains an assortment of period medical equipment and supplies, including a binaural stethoscope with a metal frame and brown rubber tubing, a sphygmomanometer bulb and gauge components housed in a black leather case, and several stainless steel surgical instruments including a speculum and various probes. Also included is a glass syringe component and a length of orange rubber tubing. Disposable medical supplies present include a packet of Monoflow synthetic gut sutures by S. Allcock & Co. Limited, an early commercial pregnancy test kit in its original cardboard box, and a packet of sterile disposable gloves.
Condition report:
The leather exterior shows significant signs of age and use, including scuffing, abrasions, and loss of the original finish particularly along the edges and base. Significant green verdigris oxidation is present on the brass rivets and metal frame components. The interior canvas lining is heavily stained with brown foxing and age spots throughout. The medical contents show signs of age-related oxidation to metal parts, and the rubber tubing on the stethoscope and other items appears aged and potentially brittle. Original paper packaging for the sutures and gloves is creased and discoloured.
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