General Information

Serial #

10073

Part Number

1

Total Parts

26

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Wood, glass, and metal components; synthetic fittings. leather handle.nickel silver electrodes. brown canvas cover with side pockets. (nb: nickel or german silver is an alloy of copper, nickel & zinc; it contains no silver)

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

37.8 cm

Width

21.5 cm

Height

31.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Medical equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

SANBORN

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Massachusetts

City

Cambridge

Context

Country

Worldwide

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1954 To present

Canada

Models such as this artifact were likely used all over Canada by medical professionals. Markings on a plate on the back of artefact state "X-ray and Radium" Industries Ltd. Toronto 646 Winnipeg Montreal Vancouver".

Function

To produce a graphic record of the electrical waves generated by the beating of the heart.

Technical

The Sanborn Viso-Cardiette, Model 51, is a direct-writing portable electrocardiograph in which an electrically heated stylus traces on heat-sensitive plastic-coated paper. In 1928 Frank Sanborn's company (founded 1917 and acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 1961 and since 1999, Philips Medical Systems) converted their table model electrocardiogram machine into their first portable version weighing 50 pounds and powered by a 6-volt automobile battery.(ref 4)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

.1 All controls, etc. labelled. Plate fixed to inside front edge reads "SANBORN COMPANY CAMBRIDGE, MASS. U.S.A./ U.S. PAT. 2,180,160- 2,500,994- OTHERS APPLIED FOR. CSA APP. NO. 8776/ MODEL 51 SERIAL 10073 VOLTS 115 CYCLES 60 AMPS. 85". "SANBORN/ VISO/ CARDIETTE" printed in gold on cover plate inside unit. Paper label fixed to inside of cover plate reads "RESPONSE SPEED/ Viso-Cardiette No. 51-10073/ This instrument has received an individual test to determine/ its ability to respond faithfully to rapid voltage variations./ The loss in response at 40 cycles is.5%: the A.M.A./ requirements allow 20%...." Cont'd in Supp. Info.

Missing

Missing set of tools for adjusting stylus (pen); original tube & spare of 'redux paste' missing.

Finish

.1 Wooden case stained & varnished; interior control panel is black with gold trim & text..2 brown canvas cover has brown leather reinforced opening for handle..3-.8 electrodes are nickel silver..9 black handle..10-.14 green-grey straps..15-.17 predominantly black..18-.21 opaque containers hold thick white liquid substance..22 black & silver metal stylus housed in clear synthetic storage tube with black lid (.22pt).

Decoration

N/A