|
MILLS EAGLE SNAP MEDICAL OFFICER’S BELT w/ ALL OF
THE CONTENTS – A WONDERFUL BELT FRESH FROM AN OLD
COLLECTION: An excellent Mills Rimmed Eagle Snap
Medical Officer’s Belt in like new condition and
complete with all of the correct and necessary medical
equipment. The belt proper is complete with all the
eyelets and closures which still retain all of 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 is ink stamped “APR 1918” with the
Mills in the Bullet logo on the underside of the flaps
on both large pouches and on the inside center of the
rear adjustment strap. The contents of the pockets are
as follows:
Left Front Large Pouch: An aluminum Pill
Bottle Carrier with all of the metal spring clips intact
and in full form. These bottle carriers are virtually
non-existent on the market today and is one of the
rarest of this belt’s contents. 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 marked with
decals indicating the contents: QUININE SULPHAS 200 MGM;
MISTURA GLYCYRL; PULV.IPECAC ET. OPII 324 MGM; and
PILULAE CATHARTICAE and these bottles are still filled
with their contents. The fifth bottle is empty and
unmarked, perhaps to allow the surgeon to add his own
choice of medication.
Also carried in this pouch is an unused pad of Duplicate
Diagnostic Forms, 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. This pad has
all the tags present, however the first tag has been
filled out, assigning Hugh Rice, Jr. of the 334 M.G. Bn,
8th Division to the Engineer Camp Infirmary.
Perhaps the soldier changed his mind once the doctor
described the treatment. Otherwise the pad is intact
showing some wear to both front and back covers, and the
front cover has been bent leaving a crease. Again,
these pads are very scarce today and a pad in any
condition is hard to find. This pad is in acceptable
condition and is necessary to complete the belt.
Left Front Small Pouch: A glass
bottle with a nickled screw top and a rubber stopper.
Right Front Large Pouch: A canvas Medical
Officers Instrument Belt Case. The canvas case is ink
stamped “Officers Belt Case with Stellite Knives” on the
face of the cover and maker marked “The KNY-Scheerer
Corporation New York” on the inside of the cover. The
pouch has some minor surface soiling, but is otherwise
in excellent condition with all seams intact, no wear or
damage, and both snaps intact and functional. The
contents of the pouch are complete, to include:
Scissors, 2 pair of forceps, a retractor, tweezers, and
the nickel plated scalpel case with both scalpels. The
instruments are all maker marked and appear to be
unused. There is also an open packet of suture
material, two unopened packets of suture ligatures, and
an opened packet of Regular Surgeons’ Suture Needles
with the needles still present.
Right Front Small Pouch: A Syringe
Case in the original OD green felt bag, complete with
the snap. 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 syringe, the two needle
assemblies, the needle cleaning wires in the tube, and
of special note, two original amber glass medicine
ampules with the corks intact.
M1910 First Aid Pouch: Mounted on
the rear of the belt, this M1910 First Aid Packet Pouch
appears to be original to the belt, is in the same like
new condition. 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
“P.B. & Co. 1917”. The pouch contains one of the brass
M1907-era Carlisle Bandage Packets, with the pull ring
and seal still intact and much of the original brown
paint present.
To find such a nice specimen of this belt with all of
the contents present available on the market is a scarce
offering and 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.
SOLD
|
