This is a very nice example of an amputation set bridging the time period between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. This set is 99% complete, the forceps being a later replacement. The knives have wide spines and downturned blades, which date the set the to c. 1840 time period. By the 1850’s the morphology of the knives would change, to a narrower blade with a slightly down-turned or straight blade, and a lighter handle. By the 1870’s, the blade tips became up-turned, and the handles a bit thicker, though not as beefy as in the earliest configuration. In addition, the tip of the blade gradually evolved from the blunted style in the early blades to a pointed tip by the 1850’s. These are all generalizations, of course; some very early knives have lighter-than-expected handles, perhaps due to being customized for a surgeon with smaller hands.
The only instruments marked “Wiegand & Snowden” are the two Lister knives, and the single catlin. The tenaculum and locking artery forceps are unmarked, but fit perfectly into place. The capital saw, bone forceps and metacarpal saw are unmarked, but fit perfectly into position and are exactly like those found in other Wiegand & Snowden sets of this time frame. The tourniquet is unmarked, but has the “squared T” handle typical of American manufacture, and has the cast brass prongs and plain cloth strap typical of the pre-Civil War era.
THE FIRM OF WIEGAND AND SNOWDEN
This set is very typical of the pre-Civil War amputation sets sold by (John) Wiegand & (Thomas) Snowden, partners in surgical instrument manufacturing in Philadelphia from 1824 until 1855, when Thomas Snowden became the sole proprietor. Despite 30 years of prosperity, in late 1857, the firm was forced to declare bankruptcy and was sold at a sheriff’s sale. Fortunately, by the summer of 1858, Thomas’ sons George and Henry resurrected the business as “Snowden and Brother”. In 1866, brother William joined the firm, and after Henry sold his interest to George in 1872, “Snowden and Brother” ceased to exist. William Snowden took over, and as “William Snowden & Co.”, the company was active until 1900.