Peter Rose was one of a handful of British expatriate cutlers arriving in the 1820’s who helped establish the craft of American surgical instrument making, long a specialty skill of Europeans. James M. Edmonson, M.D., author of the noted publication “American Surgical Instruments: The History of Their Manufacture, et. al.” writes that “Peter Rose was probably the most gifted British instrument maker in New York before midcentury.”
According to Ira Rutkow, in 1822 Rose established a business address at 122 William Street in New York City., at which time he partnered with a cutler named Sellers. The “No. 72 William St.” address on the label inside is the next earliest known location for Peter Rose. Within three years he had established a fine reputation among a select group of prominent New York City surgeons, such as Samuel W. Moore, M.D. and John Bell, M.D. In 1825, Dr. Moore treated a case of laudanum poisoning with a stomach pump made by Rose & Sellers, and gave them special mention in his case report in the New York Medical and Physical Journal. It is interesting to note that he mentions in his report, that “Mr. Rose was present ” during the case, observing first-hand the use of his pump. This was not unusual – a close relationship often existed between the instrument makers and their surgeon-clients. Surgeons’ input to the instrument maker was invaluable, in helping them to design and make a useful tool. And, a noted surgeon’s endorsement of a particular device certainly had commercial value.
THE ROSE & SELLERS PARTNERSHIP
Nancy Ettensperger’s website “https://www.ancestorsandothers.net/PDF/PDHRev.pdf” is a treasure trove of information about the Rose and Sellers families. Peter Rose and Paschall Sellers were first cousins once removed. Peter Rose, born in 1800, was the youngest child of William Rose and Hannah Sellers. William Rose and four of Peter’s elder brothers were cutlers, “manufacturers of bayonets, swords and sabers”. Joseph Sellers Sr. was a blacksmith, and the father of Hannah Sellers and her brother Joseph Jr. Paschall Sellers was Joseph Jr.’s son. Thus, the firm of Rose and Sellers was the product of a “marriage” between the son of a cutler and the grandson of a blacksmith.