Electrical therapeutic devices have been popular since the late 19th century for treating many kinds of ailments and diseases. Even before the scientific principles behind the production of electric currents were properly understood, electrical apparatus were manufactured both for home use and for physicians and other practitioners.

One kind of device was the induction coil, which sent an electric current through the patient's body. These are still used by physiotherapists to stimulate muscles or increase blood flow but nowadays they are far less likely to be used as home appliances than they were in the early to mid 20th century. The device is connected to the body part under treatment by two cables each with a tin contact plate on its end. Each plate is placed on the skin with a saline-soaked pad underneath. A rhythmically interrupted electrical current passes between the plates through the patient's body.

This particular example is one of a number of electrotherapeutic devices in the Powerhouse Museum collection. It was used by the donor's grandfather to treat his rheumatism at home in Cooranbong in New South Wales. It is a commercial product, probably manufactured before 1940. However, grandfather was a tinkerer and it looks as though he has modified it to suit his own needs. The family used to call it 'the vibrator'. After grandfather's death around 1975 it languished in the family garage until it was donated to the Powerhouse.

The actual manufacturer of the device is not known, although a plate on the main case (2003/69/1-1) states 'Supplied by Stanford X-ray Co. Pty Ltd'. This company no longer exists but was in Collingwood, Victoria. It is likely that the device was modified by the owner.

The device belongs to an electrotherapeutic induction coil and was owned by the donor's grandfather, Mr Thomas Leslie Palmer of Cooranbong New South Wales, who used it to treat his rheumatism. In 1991 the donor, Ms Hazel Palmer, recalled that her grandfather died 'about five years ago', while in 2002 her recollection was that he died 'about 25 years ago'. Her father inherited it but he did not use it and it sat in his garage at Merriwa until the donor gave it to the Powerhouse in 1991. Reference: Conversations between Mrs Hazel Palmer and Megan Hicks, curator of health and medicine, in 1991 and 2002.

Pair of electrodes, part of electrotherapeutic induction coil, wood / plastic / metal, supplied by Stanford X-ray Co Pty Ltd, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, [1930 - 1940]

Pair of electrodes for electrotherapeutic induction coil comprising a rectangular sheet of black metal with a white plastic covered copper wire attached to a cylindrical piece of wood. The wire is held to the wood by masking tape and in the base are a pair of nails through two layers of dark metal. The wire attached to the metal and wood is also joined at a third point and separates at the ends, showing the internal copper fibres.

Made: Collingwood, Victoria; 1930 - 1940


Used: Palmer, Thomas Leslie; Cooranbong, New South Wales

None

2003/69/1-3

1930 - 1940

300 mm