Binaural Stethoscope, circa 1909

01

Artifact Overview

Stethoscopes help doctors assess the health of the heart and other internal organs. Invented in the early 1800s, it has become a standard tool of medical personnel and a symbol of the medical profession. This model was made by the G.P. Pilling & Son Company around 1909.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Stethoscope

Date Made

circa 1909

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

2003.0.53.109

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Rubber (Material)

Color

Silver (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Width: 5 in (at widest point of earpieces)
Length: 32 in

Inscriptions

On bell: PILLING SPECIAL / STETHOSCOPE / BOWLES PATENT / PAT. 1.26.09/ P / symbol / G. P. PILLING & SON CO./ SOLE MFR'S / PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A. On frame: PILLING - PHILA