The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

perhaps an old school defibrillator?

It's a late 19th- early 20th C. quack medical battery. There's absolutely no reason to believe it was an Edison product.

I just saw this today and wondered what the heck it was, too. What the heck are the things that look like buffing wheel pads? And what about a carriage and feedscrew? *grin*

The pads are sponges, they were wet and used as electrical contacts on the body. The cylindrical device is a rheostat for changing the current strength..

estott wrote:The pads are sponges, they were wet and used as electrical contacts on the body. The cylindrical device is a rheostat for changing the current strength..

and the question is, why are you knowldgeble on these devices (or do we want to know what goes on in the home of estott)?

I used to have quite a collection- they're fascinating.

estott wrote:I used to have quite a collection- they're fascinating.

I'm almost afraid to ask what else you've collected in the past.

Perhaps some early 20th century mechanical divices used to cure "hysteria" in women?

I hope this isn't TOO O/T and the image isn't copyrighted...if it is, just delete it. I couldn't resist after Zeppy's post. I just hope it's not resized too much as to be unreadable.

coyote wrote:I hope this isn't TOO O/T and the image isn't copyrighted...if it is, just delete it. I couldn't resist after Zeppy's post. I just hope it's not resized too much as to be unreadable.

image004.jpg

I'm really starting to wonder about some of you folks.




mmmmm...I know the smell of lysol gets me fired up!