This set is included in the “Civil War U.S.A. Medical and Hospital Department” category because, although the cartouche is unmarked (and in fact appears to be a later tin replacement), the double-sliding latch design identifies it as a military-issued set. V.W. Brinckerhoff (also spelled Brinkerhoff) was a known (albeit minor) supplier to the Union Medical and Hospital Departments in the Civil War. Sadly, there is no label in the set, and it is missing quite a few instruments – but retains the capital amputating saw, Liston bone forceps, Mott’s retractors and tenaculum, which are maker-marked as “V. W. Brinckerhoff, N.Y.” The capital amputation saw is of a unique design. Alex Peck has the exact same one on his website, and states: “To my knowledge, this particular design for an amputation saw is unique to Brinkerhoff.“
There are also several instruments marked “W.R. Goulding” present. Dr. Michael Echols, who has the premier website “medicalantiques.com”, has evaluated a set in which Goulding’s signature capital saw is housed in a Brinkerhoff case, and believes there may be a connection of Brinkerhoff’s business to that of William Goulding. Goulding’s business (strictly pre-Civil War) was located close to where Brinkerhoff’s business was, and Goulding’s business was ending as that of Brinkerhoff (1856 to 1868) was beginning.
I am quite certain the cartouche is a later replacement – however, the elongated oval area for the cartouche is consistent with other existing sets identified to Brinckerhoff. Whether the original cartouche was ever engraved is unknown – surplus sets left over after the war ended often had their cartouches removed prior to resale, and this may have been such a set. When obtained, it had a number of post-Civil War instruments present – I have culled the majority out, but have left some in only for aesthetic purposes.
Although there are many instruments missing, to date, I am unaware of another capital military contract set made by Brinckerhoff in existence. I believe this is an extremely rare item, and may be the only remaining set of its kind.