Box wooden containing a magneto electric machine cranked by metal handle which assists nervous and other diseases including rheumatism.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, magneto electric machine

Printed on pink paper. Illustrations of six Magneto-Electric machines used for medical purposes. Four of them are mounted in wooden boxes, the other two on wooden stands. They have horseshoe magnets in them and brass handles to turn them. The first one was manufactured by Daniel Davis in 1848, the next two by W. C. & J. Neff 1850-1860 and 1870, the fourth one by Ariel Davis patented in 1854, the fifth one Signed 'Davis' ca. 1850 and the sixth one Miller Cowen Dynamo Electric Machine, Knott Apparatus Company 1921. Written at the top of the page is: Spark Museum, Body therapy Machines.medical, magneto-electric machine - body therapy machine, daniel davis, w c & j neff, ariel davis, ashael davis, davis & kidder, miller cowan dynamo electric machine, knott apparatus company

Experimentation with electricity for medical purposes has its origins in the late 18th Century. Throughout the 19th Century it became more common, including as a proposed treatment for 'nervous' disorders. This device is a small, portable, 'at-home' device.Device for administering electric stimulation to patients. Consists of a wooden box containing a hand driven generator, with terminals for the attachment of electrodes that may be held by the patient or placed against the patient's skin. The directions for use include information about wetting the sponges and the patient's hands before cranking the machine to produce a small electric shock.

In the early 20th century there were many small machines and instruments developed to use as home cures. These included massage and vibratory instruments and those taking advantage of the growing use of electric currents in the treatment of nervous and mental health issues. This machine was used to produce a electric current to use on the human body to alleviate ailments that included nervous conditions, neuralgia, lumbago, back ache, muscle soreness and even toothache. Developments in allied health treatment saw the waning of the popularity of these kinds of medical aids by the mid 20th century.This machine is of great interest as an example of the items used by people in the late 19th and early 20th century as home cures for all sorts of ailments that afflicted people at the time.This is rectangular wooden box with a lid connected with metal hinges. The inside of the lid has a paper insert with printed material on it. The box has a metal mechanism inside and this includes a metal magnet, a pulley with a rubber belt and two round metal drums covered in dark blue felt. On the outside of the box is a metal handle that is connected to the mechanism inside. There is a metal closing catch on the outside of the box. There are also two wires on the outside of the box with one of these connected to the inside mechanism. The wires have hollow brass cylinders attached to the ends. The box is heavily stained and scuffed.‘Magneto Electric Machine for Nervous & Other Diseases’allied health in early 20th century, warrnambool, history of warrnambool