Although easier said than done, if you have some inkling of the profession that your objects relate to, you could approach the relevant specialist museum.  I'm wearing my Surgeons hat today, but I also work at the Pharmaceutical Society on Wednesdays and Thursdays: we often help other museums with this kind of identification problem - as long as there aren't too many items!

Briony

Briony Hudson | Director of Museums and Special Collections
The Royal College of Surgeons of England | 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields | London WC2A 3PE
t: 020 7869 6570 | f: 020 7869 6564 | e: [log in to unmask] | w: http://www.rcseng.ac.uk

Please note that I work part-time at the College on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

-----Original Message-----
From: UK Medical Collections Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Claire Jones
Sent: 20 July 2010 13:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Identifying objects in medical collections

Hi Elanor

My advice would be to try and locate some historical trade catalogues
from somewhere. They can help you identify tools through their
advertisement of tools as products. The text, illustrations, prices of
products in catalogues can help you date the instruments too. You can
access some medical catalogues online through the Scientific
Instrument Commission website, although you may have to trawl through
it. You can also try searching for veterinary catalogues here too:

http://www.sic.iuhps.org/refertxt/catalogs.htm

I hope this helps!

Best,

Claire Jones


Quoting Elanor Cowland <[log in to unmask]>:

> Hello,
>
> Can anyone recommend good reference works/internet sites/anything
> really to assist me in identifying objects in our small collection
> of medical tools, equipment and packaging?
>
> Also is there any way of telling the difference between human and
> vetinary equipment?
>
> I am looking at this collection for the first time so any advice
> would be gratefully recieved!
>
> Best wishes
>
> Elanor Cowland
>
> Keeper of Community History
> St Albans Museums
>

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