TREPANNING SET, UNMARKED, LIKELY ENGLISH c.1810
An early set, and quite possibly English. Unfortunately there are no manufacturer’s marks on any of the instruments, which are housed in a mahogany box with brass corner trim and brackets. The original key is present (so often missing). Purple – or faded blue – “shag” type fabric lines the interior.
The set is complete with nearly all of its original instruments. The turned wood handle utilizes an unusual attachment mechanism seen only in very early trephines. A levered spring holds the stem of the trephine bit into place, as opposed to the later style in which a screw secures the bit to the handle. The trephines have nice bluing on the thumb-screw slider which raises and lowers the central bit. A Dr. Hey’s saw for cutting an uneven surface, and elevator lever for raising depressed bone and to aid in removing the bone disc cut with the trephine are present, but the scalpel used to lay bare the skull is missing.