Archive of Ephemera Related to Medical Equipment Manufactured or Sold by Max Wocher & Son of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio: Max Wocher & Son, Circa 1900. A collection of 96 ephemeral items, along with some duplicates, issued by or relating to Max Wocher & Son, a Cincinnati based manufacturer and vendor of surgical instruments as well as “deformity appliances,” trusses, elastic stockings, medicine cases, medical office and hospital furniture, veterinary instruments, and other medical equipment. The material dates from the turn of the century, circa 1897 to 1905, and was all sent to the Wills Drug Store in Covington, Virginia. Items include catalogs, booklets, flyers, circulars, brochures, envelopes, letters, and invoices, providing comprehensive documentation of the marketing and sale of a wide variety of medical equipment. Generally in very good condition, with some creasing and occasional soiling. A catalog of the archive follows:

A) Catalogs and Booklets:

1) Tenth Edition. Illustrated Catalogue of Veterinary Instruments, Books, Drugs, Turf Foods, Etc. Sold by Max Wocher & Son. Cincinnati: The Mcdonald Press, Circa 1905. 8vo, grey wrappers, 116 pp. Fully illustrated catalog, mainly for veterinary equipment—surgical and dental tools, castrating and spaying instruments, impregnating syringes, etc. Also medical books, and tools for humans—medicine cases, uterine supporters, microscopes, wheelchairs, and more. Very good.

2) A Select Line of Medicine Cases, Pocket Vial Cases, Obstetric Bags, Etc. Cincinnati: Max Wocher & Son, circa 1905. 6 x 4”, green printed wrappers, [48] pp, illustrated. Catalog of medicine cases for doctors and surgeons. Very good.

3) Extracts From Dr. Ferd. C. Valentine’s Article on “Improvements in the Irrigation Treatment of Gonorrhoea.” (In New York Medical Record, June 5, 1897). With Description and Price List of the Apparatus for the Rapid Cure of Gonorrhoea. Cincinnati: Max Wocher & Son, [1897]. Octavo, [8] pp, illustrated. Prints an article on the irrigation treatment of Gonorrhoea, followed by promotional text and prices for irrigators sold by Wocher. Very good, bit soiled.

4) Bulletin No. 14. Victor Electro Surgical Specialties. N.P.: Victor Electric Corporation, circa 1900. Octavo, stapled booklet, 16 pp, illustrated. Stamp of Max Wocher & Son to front cover. Catalog of electric surgical equipment and medical electricity equipment manufactured by Victor, including the Victor Head Lamp, Victor Electro-Mechanical Massage Outfit, alternating cautery transformer, and more. Soiling to covers, small tear to lower edge of front cover.

5) Elastic Stocking Order Blanks. Cincinnati: Max Wocher & Son, Circa 1905. 12mo, green wrappers, 16 pp. Prints order blanks for elastic stockings, with illustrated promotional text for Wocher products on each facing page, including trusses and other supporters. In excellent condition.

B) Brochures and Leaflets:

Nine brochures and leaflets, circa 1890s to 1900s. A collection of brochures and leaflets, mainly catalogs for medical equipment manufactured or sold by Wocher & Son. Some of the brochures were for products made by other companies, but they often contain printed text noting that they were sold by Wocher. Includes two editions of a “Retail Price List of DeVilbiss Surgical Instruments”, devised by A. DeVilbiss of Toledo, Ohio, two editions of a brochure for “Kelene Local Anaesthetic” (by Fries Bros of New York), plus leaflet and brochure catalogs for the “Perfection Porcelain Bed and Douche Pan” (by Meinecke & Co of New York), vial and medicine cases (by Wocher), “Sideway General Utility and Bedside Tables” (by Wocher), and the “Rochester Combination Sterilizer” (by Wilma Castle & Co of Rochester). Finally, there is a large folding leaflet catalog for medical equipment, surgical equipment, and orthopedic appliances for the disabled, all by Wocher & Co. Generally very good, sections clipped out of latter catalog and one of the DeVilbiss catalogs.
C) Flyers and Circulars:

1) Ten larger flyers or circulars, circa 1890s to 1900s. Nine octavos, one quarto, each a single leaf, printed on one or both sides. Includes items devoted entirely to the following Wocher products: nebulizers and atomizers, the “Success Rectal Dilator,” “The Detmers-Robinson Aseptic Hypodermic Syringes”, and “The New High Speed Medical Centrifuge”. Also includes a circular advertising a variety of Wocher products, including doctor’s office furniture, “Cannon Balls for Abdominal Massage", the “Materna Milk-Modifying Apparatus”, and more. Finally, there are two items for products sold by Wocher but made elsewhere: a flyer for “The ‘Underwood’ 20th Century Pulmonary Inspirator”, and a quarto circular for “The Macdannold Surgical and Gynecological Chair” printed in blue ink. Generally very good, with some soiling.

2) A collection of 30 circulars advertising products made or sold by Wocher & Son, circa 1890s to 1900s. These appear to be extracts or offprints from Wocher catalogs, as they have page numbers in the corners. Octavos, generally 2-4 pages, with a few running to 6 pages. Products advertised include office and hospital furniture, surgical cases, nasal instruments, nebulizers, obstetric and operating cushions, elastic hosiery, wash stands, abdominal and umbilical supporters, uterine supporters, syringes, rectal instruments, gynecological instruments, aseptic furniture for gynecological exams, electric lights and batteries, stomach tubes, surgical instruments, “The Hammock Invalid Folding Bed,” “The Germicidal Lung Cabinet”, “The Philadelphia Ear Masseur Engines”, and more. Three of the circulars are for orthopedic apparatuses for disabled individuals, including wheelchairs, “raised shoe for shortened limbs,” “bow leg braces,” “Tiemann’s Club-Foot Apparatus,” and more. Very good.

3) 28 smaller circulars, plus a number of duplicates, apparently mailed to promote products made and/or sold by Wocher & Son, circa 1890s to 1900s. Each measures around 6.5 x 3.75”. These are printed one or both sides, and are generally illustrated, devoted to one or two products each. Products include medical batteries, “The Copper Retort Formaldehyde Gas Generator,” artificial eyes, “Mulford’s Pre-Digested Beef”, “The Success Ladies’ Syringe,” “The Queen Porous Elastic Belt,” “Max Wocher & Son’s Improved Uterine Supporter,” “Cannon Balls for Abdominal Self-Massage,” “Bowles” Stethoscope,” wheelchairs, “New Physicians’ and Dentists’ Electric Illuminating Diagnostic Lamp,” and more. Very good, some creasing and occasional soiling.

D) Envelopes, Letters, Invoices, and Order Forms:

1) Six different types of envelopes, plus duplicates, mailed between 1901 and 1904, bearing printed promotional text and/or illustrations by Wocher & Son. Some soiling.

2) Four letters, three sent to A.S. Wills of Covington, Virginia, from Wocher & Son, dated 1899, 1901, and 1902. Includes a two page typed letter with a price list of abdominal supporters and uterine attachments, a brief letter enclosing a sample of a “swiss bandage”, with an actual piece of bandage still pinned to the letter, and a brief letter enclosing a shipment of goods. Together with a letter sent to Wocher & Son by the Wills Drug Store, ordering products. Very good.

3) Two receipts for products sold by Wocher & Son to the Wills Drug Co, dated 1902, plus two order forms filled out by Wills, dated 1900. Together with many copies of an order form issued by Wocher & Son. Item #13373

Price: $1,500.00