By Matthew Cumberledge, GCHS Executive Director
Health, something that has concerned mankind since the beginning of time, has brought many great innovations, cures, techniques, and therapies to modern society over the centuries. As with any form of science it is a continuing learning process.
As the widespread use of electricity developed, so too did odd medical devices known as “Quack Medical Devices” that began to appear on the market. A slight prod of electricity here, or the warm glow of a lamp there would pave the way to your everlasting health! Well, that’s what they thought, anyway.
During the winter at the Greene County Historical Society, we’ve been renovating and sorting our collections. From time to time absolutely incredible items come to light. Just a few days ago, we discovered one of these “Quack Medical Devices” in our General Store.
Initially, when we found the cast iron, art deco style device, we thought it may have been a small space heater. Upon cleaning the item however, we found that there is a small tag on the back that read “Graybar Sunshine Lamp.” Not knowing what this was, we hit the books!
It seems we have located a “Health Lamp” that would have been used in the home to cure any number of ailments. Dating to the early 1930’s, the lamp burns two carbon rods that are behind a screen, that would have glowed and sparked, adding a certain atmosphere to the air that would lead the way to full recovery! Unfortunately, devices such as these served little true medical benefit, however the history of items such as this Graybar Sunshine Lamp are a good indicator of how far advanced our medical technology has become. The Art Deco style of the Graybar Lamp is certainly attractive, and we are sure that these proudly graced the tables and shelves of even the finest early 20th century homes.
This quack medical device forms just a small part of the collection of medical Items housed at the Greene County Historical Society Museum. We feature a fully authentic turn of the century doctors office with all of the equipment and tools of the trade that would have been used by even the finest country physician.
