WORLD WAR ONE MILLS EAGLE SNAP MEDICAL OFFICER’S
BELT – COMPLETE w/ MANY OF THE RARE CONTENTS – AN
EXCELLENT SPECIMEN: A rare offering, this
excellent Mills Rimmed Eagle Snap Medical Officer’s Belt
in like new condition and has survived the passage of
time intact with the special medical equipment and
supplies that were originally carried in the belt by the
doctor.
The belt proper is complete with
all the eyelets and closures which still retain the
original blackened finish, the eagle snaps are all
present, retain their subdued finish and all function
properly with no fasteners pulled loose from the woven
material. The belt shows no wear or damage and all of
the edges are still crisp. The three belt sections bear
matching and fully legible Mills stamps - the rear
adjustment section of the belt is ink stamped “MAR 1918”
and the underside of the flaps on both large pouches are
also stamped “MAR 1918”, and all three dates are
accompanied by the Mills Bullet logo. Both of the
blackened belt tips still bear the legible Mills Company
patent and logo stampings.
The contents of the pockets are as follows:
Left Front Large Pouch: The aluminum Pill
Bottle Carrier with all of the metal spring clips intact
and in full form with no corrosion or misshaping. These
aluminum bottle carriers are virtually non-existent on
the market today and this is one of the rare components
which have remained with this belt. The carrier has all
five bakelite pill bottles, each complete with its screw
on lid, and each in very good condition with no cracks
or breaks. Four of the five bottles are still legibly
marked with decals indicating the contents: 1) PILULAE
CATHARTICAE COMP.; 2) MISTURA GLYCYR; 3) PULV. IPECAC
ET.; 4) QUININE SULPHAS 200 MGM; and 5) ACIDUM
ACETYLSALICYLIC Tablets, 324 MGM.
Left Front Small Pouch: A Syringe
Case in the original OD green felt bag, complete with
the snap, and fully intact with no fading, mothing or
seam separation. The aluminum syringe case is marked
“MED DEPT U.S.A.” on the hinged lid and the case is full
form with no dents and the lid opens freely on the
intact hinge. The case contains the fully functional
and complete syringe – marked “TAG”, one of the known
manufacturers of these sets - , the two needle
assemblies, and the needle cleaning wires in the tube.
The Syringe Case also contains a real rarity – all six
of the glass vials. Each vial is complete with its cork
stopper and each retains the original paper label.
This Syringe Case is a particularly nice example in
excellent condition.
Model 1910 Diagnostic Tag Pouch: Mounted
on the lower edge of the belt below the belt’s Right
Front Small Pouch, this Model 1910 Diagnostic Tag
Booklet Pouch matches the same excellent condition as
the belt. The snaps retain their original blackened
finish and are fully functional with no wear or
tearing. The inside of the pouch flap is ink stamped
“AUG 1918” with the Mills in the Bullet logo.
The pouch contains the original diagnostic tag booklet.
This pad appears to have all of the Duplicate Diagnostic
Forms present - one of which was intended to be left
with each wounded soldier to detail his wounds and the
treatment he had received to that point.
The pad is in full form,
but the front cover has separated from the booklet at
the edge of the black binding tape. The booklet still
displays nicely as is, but the front cover could be
reattached with fresh binding tape if the new owner so
desires. Both the front and back covers are otherwise
fully intact, and they show the typical scuffing from
being carried in the pouch. The diagnostic forms are in
excellent condition, fully legible and show no damage.
These pads are quite rare today and a pad in any
condition is hard to find, and this pad is a very
respectable example and a very necessary component to
complete the belt.
Right Front Large Pouch: A canvas Medical
Officers Instrument Belt Case, complete with the field
surgical instruments, one packet of silver wire sutures,
and one packet of surgeon’s suturing needles. The pouch
is in excellent condition with all seams intact, no wear
or damage, and both snaps intact and functional. All of
the instruments are present and have survived in
excellent condition, showing only minimal signs of use.
Right Front Small Pouch: A glass
bottle with a nickeled screw top which still retains the
cork washer.
This Medical Officer’s Belt is in
excellent condition – truly a special specimen, complete
with the correct and necessary medical equipment and
supplies, including several of the rarest and very
difficult pieces to find. To find such a belt of this
quality with the contents intact is becoming
increasingly difficult and this specimen is one worthy
of adding to most collections. This is the quality of
belt that normally moves quietly from one collection to
the next with never seeing the light of day. (1001)
$2150
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