Amputation Set by H.G. Kern, c. 1864 – 65

This is a three-tiered set, with most of the instruments marked. The center keyhole in the set above designates it as a civilian set (by way of comparison, see the other two Civil War contract U.S.A. Hospital Dept. sets made by Kern here:).

Horatio G. Kern was a minor supplier of contracted surgical sets during the Civil War. Based in Philadelphia, he was second only to Snowden and Brother in terms of production.

Horatio Gates Kern was born in Philadelphia in 1816. According to Edmonson, he started his business in 1837 on Filbert Street in Philadelphia. It was apparently a very successful venture; in 1850, he reported real estate worth $20,000 (approximately $700,000 today.) His business continued despite the death of his first wife in 1844, followed by the death of his only child, a son, a month later. His remarriage produced a son, Horatio G. Kern, Jr. who joined the business in 1876 at age 21. After his father’s death in 1889, Horatio Jr. operated the manufactory until 1893.

Edmonson states the business operated from 1849 – 59 at 293 High St. in Philadelphia , and from 1860 – 70 at the 25 N. 6th St. address. This would mean that basically no pre-Civil War sets were made at the 25 N. 6th St. factory. My own research, using the McElroy city directories indicates otherwise, as I have noted below:

Horatio G. Kern: 1850- 55 293 High St.
1856 – 57 25 N. 6th St.
1858 – 59 21 N. 6th St. (he would return to this address from 1869 -89)
1860 – 68 25 N. 6th St.

Note the address in the ad Kern placed in the Phila. Merchants’ and Manufacturers’ Business Directory for 1856 – 57: