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RARE & IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR ERA TOMPKINS ARMY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
RARE & IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR ERA TOMPKINS ARMY

MEDICAL STRETCHER. Charles H. Tompkins studied at West Point, and during the Civil War served as Quartermaster, winning the Congressional Medal of Honor May 31, 1861 for reconnaissance at Fairfax Courthouse. He stayed in the army, retiring as Colonel in 1894. During the Civil War, Tompkins invented & caused to have manufactured by the U.S. National Wagon Works of Philadelphia, a private concern which the proprietor referred to as an army depot an “improved stretcher” for which he later (8/7/1866) received a patent (Patent no. 57,013). Tompkins asserted his invention was a compact, portable device which could comfortably accommodate a wounded soldier and enable him to be easily moved by one or two orderlies while being protected from the elements. Stretcher is constructed of wood, painted dark green & weighs about 30 lbs. It measures 8.5’ in length, 25" wide, stands 22" high on two pairs of folding legs which are locked in position for carrying. The hardware is cotton canvas. The back rests & leg rests can be raised & lowered & canvas canopy provides protection from the elements. An additional waterproof cover can be unrolled from the foot for added protection. Removable wheels on a folding axis w/ elliptical springs complete the design & the entire stretcher folds in half for storage for transportation. "Medical & Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion" describes a similar stretcher. In 1993, Eric P. Kane, MD, published a short article “The Tompkins Stretcher” in Military Collector and Historian (Vol XLV, No 3, Fall 1993, p. 131). He notes that only a few extant examples were known to exist. This example post dates the war most likely as it has the painted 1866 patent date. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: White House Landing Museum copy of Military Collector & Historian on Tompkins stretcher. CONDITION: very good overall as restored, metal & wood components all appear original other than one cross board w/ waterproof canvas at foot, canvas bonnet which has several tears is original w/ soiling & staining, other canvas parts are replaced. (02-16674/JS). $3,000-4,000.