Ever Ready Quack medical set

[Cobaltblue]

I have a couple of these Shocking coils kicking around but I was lucky enough to see this one for sale locally on Facebook Marketplace.

It appealed to me because of the Ever Ready branding.

It needs a bit of work on the case and to set up the breaker but its a nice little thing.

I will also need to find some very small screws to properly re-assemble it.

The case needs a bit of repair the case was being pushed apart with the handles being jammed in the wrong place.

I think I have everything in its rightful place now.

I would be delighted to see another example.

I suspect its relatively modern from the 1950's but that's pure speculation on my part.

Cheers

Mike T

[nicam49]

I had a Merit Electrical Set (I think it was called) in the early '60s that contained amongst other things, one of these. One of the suggested party tricks from the instruction book, was to place one handle in a bowl of water, then the victim held onto the other handle while trying to retrieve from the bowl a coin with the other hand. I'd love to find one of these sets again.....
Oh yes, and it had a steel rod that could slide in and out of the coil former to increase the 'shock'

[stevehertz]

Have you 'tested' it yet?!

[Cobaltblue]

Not yet maybe later today.

Been a tad busy

Cheers

Mike T

[Radio Wrangler]

Restrictions on seasonal get-togethers limits the supply of victims...

David

[stevehertz]

One of the hundreds of dangerous electrical items that were sold in the early part of the last century, ironically aimed at improving lives and lifestyles but so often takers of the same.

[The Philpott]

The box and other details make it look pre-war to me..?

[Cobaltblue]

I did some crude adjustments gave it 1.5 volts and away it went.

Not sure what voltage its intended to run on but as the Primary is just under 1 Ohm I doubt its much more than that.

I manage to draw a very small spark off the secondary and light a small neon

So I would not put this in the killer class

I still have not had a chance to glue up the case yet.

The original Battery type is a bit of a mystery, open to suggestions.

Its too small a space for something like an 800 (3 Volt lantern battery).

The maximum size 3.5" by 1.75" by 1.5"

The contacts are on the side

I can make up a little carrier for a D cell just wondered what the original was.

Cheers

Mike T

[rontech]

I had an electrical set made by S.E.L. ca 1948 which had a similar item. I used to run it off a 4.5 volt battery of the day.

It certainly gave a good strong "tingle" with a ring of victims holding hands in a circle. I don't think it would produce much of a spark.

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

The original Battery type is a bit of a mystery, open to suggestions.

Its too small a space for something like an 800 (3 Volt lantern battery).

The maximum size 3.5" by 1.75" by 1.5"

The contacts are on the side

Apart from having the contacts on the side, it sounds the sort of size that would fit something equivalent to the battery shown below.

[Cobaltblue]

I think you right Dave.

The height is right and it would not be beyond anyone to make a simple adaptor.

Cheers

Mike T

[Dave Moll]

Of course, that cell (which I mistakenly called a battery above) being obsolete, your intended carrier for a "D" cell is probably the way to go.

[Cobaltblue]

Originally Posted by Dave Moll

Of course, that cell (which I mistakenly called a battery above) being obsolete, your intended carrier for a "D" cell is probably the way to go.

Haha I think you will be forgiven that one most of us refer to Batteries even when its a single cell.

I have glued the corners of the case bottom and top half.

Originally the "works" were glued inside the case but the cow glue did not bond very well to the "silk" lining of the case. I will see if I can find a piece to see if its real silk or a man made copy.

I am loath to glue it back in I suspect modern glue may be a bit more permanent.

My touch in paints are in Poole.

I may just leave it it doesn't look to bad perhaps just tone down the white wood where the covering is missing.

Cheers

Mike T

[60 oldjohn]

Hi Mike, Happy New Year. What are the small screws you mention in #1 ? I may be able to help.

Cheers, John.

[Cobaltblue]

Hi John and a happy New Year to you as well.

Thanks for the offer I have not been having much finding anything.

I will drop you a PM shortly.

Cheers

Mike T

[greenstar]

Quack medical? Still used in psychiatric wards, despite there being no known explanation. I do like these things though ... I have an earlier magneto electric machine.

[mark_in_manc]

I was wondering about the comb! For fun, to make the hair stand on end, or perhaps as part of a quack baldness remedy??

[Cobaltblue]

From what I have read this style of "medical apparatus" was for dealing with skin ailments.

Of course these can as easily be in the scalp as anywhere else.

I did have a go a bit earlier with it "lashed up" and got a strong tingling on the back of my hand.

I tried it on 1.5V and 3V there was no noticeable difference in operation which came as a bit of a surprise.

There was more arcing on the breaker at 3V but that seemed the only noticeable change.

Cheers

Mike T

[Radio Wrangler]

Core saturation is likely to be a limiting factor.

David

[rontech]

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

From what I have read this style of "medical apparatus" was for dealing with skin ailments.

Of course these can as easily be in the scalp as anywhere else.

I did have a go a bit earlier with it "lashed up" and got a strong tingling on the back of my hand.

I tried it on 1.5V and 3V there was no noticeable difference in operation which came as a bit of a surprise.

There was more arcing on the breaker at 3V but that seemed the only noticeable change.

Cheers

Mike T

The larger induction or Rhumkorf coils have a capacitor across the contacts to reduce arcing and I think it also boosts the output voltage. The capacitors were traditionally made from layers of tinfoil and waxed paper. I was given such a coil along with a load of chemicals / apparatus by our family doctor who was having a clearout. ( 1955 ). That coil, run off a 6v lead acid battery gave 2 - 3 cm sparks. Danger DO NOT TOUCH!!