Historical information

Dr. Joseph Clover (1825-1882), an English physician, first described his Portable Regulating Ether Inhaler on Jan. 20, 1877. Clover was an especially sought after anesthesiologist and early pioneer in the specialty. This was the best-known of many inhalers that Clover designed. The dome-shaped reservoir was turned to points on a control dial to gradually increase or decrease the percentage of the air that passed over the ether. Several inventors based new inhalers on this, while the original continued to be manufactured as late as the beginning of WWII.

Physical description

Dome shaped metal chamber with a red leather face mask attached at one end and a metal elbow joint at the other, including a bulb for a rebreather bag and a tap mechanism.

Inscriptions & markings

Engraved on dome of chamber: Mayer & Meltzer / London / Clover's Inhaler
•Stamped on flat base of chamber: 1 2 3 1 2 3