Downs Bros. Limited, Archive
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
A.2011.0001
Date
1906-1990
Extent and medium
5 boxes
Administrative / Biographical History
Downs Surgical Limited was founded in 1879 and became a major company in manufacturing high quality instruments, specialising in ear, nose and throat surgery. In 1946 the company merged with another, Meyer and Phelps Limited and opened offices in London, Sheffield, Scotland, Canada, USA, Australia and Ireland. They acquired a neurogical instrument firm, Lewis Brothers, during the 1960s.
Scope and content
Five boxes and one plaque of material relating to Downs Bros. Limited. Includes the following:
Box 1: Training Manual for Micro-T Instrumentation in Neurosurgery, Otology and Ophthalmology; Research paper, titled 'Analysis of Forty Sugita Surgical Aneurysm Clips Selected from Downs Inventory of Quarantined Clips, September 1, 1984'; diagrams of objects including forceps, moffat suckers, needle holders; folder titled 'Standardization' (containing correspondence, notes and diagrams relating to the standardization of surgical instruments); journal articles relating to the corrosion of metals; journal article titled 'The Significance of Metallic Transfer in Orthopaedic Surgery' (1955); journal titled 'An Investigation of the Torsion Strength of Screws Produced by Four Different Dies' (1961); patent drawings; folder titled 'Workshop Practice' ; folder of specifications, correspondence and patent drawings for the production of forceps, techincal data for the Downs Electronic Metal Locator.
Box 2: Archive of material relating to Titanium Implants sent by Downs to their representative, D J Barker. Includes memoranda, journal extracts and articles, patent drawings; copy of Cast 8 Preservation of Sharp Edges Progress Report, 1987-1988; brochure by Downs titled 'Titanium in Relation to Surgery'; photocopy of Patent Applications by Downs titled 'Incontinence appliance for male personal wear' in 1982 and 1986; brochures on the history of Titanium; copy of the entry submitted by Downs for the Cutlers Prize in 1990 titled 'Technique and Instrumentation for Percutaneous Discectomy'; copy of a patent application produced by D R Bevan titled 'Vaginal Speculum and Methods of Use.
Box 3: Smiths Industries Medical Systems Group Brochure (which Downs was part of); copy of Downs' lightbulb evaluation report, 1986; pattern drawings of a Strauss Sigmoidoscope designed by Downs (not approved for production); folder of drawings approved for production including of a Waltons Retractor, Siegle Pneumatic Speculum; folder of pattern drawings of catalogue items including prostheses; blank 'Downs Surgical Limited' notepaper; programme of events for the Downs Surgical Limited European Dealers Conference held at the Old Ship Hotel, Brighton in 1976; purchase order dated 1941; advertising leaflet for the charity 'ECHO: Equipment to Charity Hospitals Overseas'; copy of Smiths Industries Technical Department Report produced by D R Bevan in December 1987; brochure of abstracts for the "Arthrodesis and Instrumentation of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine' symposium published by The Royal Society of Medicine, September 1990; catalogue of sale products produced by Aesculap Limited; copy of patent for an aspiration needle produced by Downs, 1983; copy of patent application for a biopsy needle produced by Downs, 1982; sample of safety pins; scrapbook of surgeons' needles.
Box 4: Catalogues including 1. A Catalogue of Instruments used in the practice of Laryngology Rhinology and Otology and Peroral Endoscopy manufactured and sold by Mayer & Phelps, 1939; 2. Surgical Instruments, Hospital Supplies, Appliances & Equipment Catalogue Twentieth Edition (1961); 3. 'Showroom'; 4. Surgical Instruments Appliances and Hospital Equipment - Down Bros Volume 1., including price list for 1952; 5. A Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Medical Appliances, Operation Tables, Sterilizers, Hospital Equipment, Sterilized Surgical Dressings, Surgical Sutures and Ligatures, Allen and Hanburys Limited (1938); 6. John Weiss and Son Ophthalmic Instruments and Appliances, 1966; 7. A Catalogue of Instruments used in the practice of Laryngology Rhinology and Otology and Peroral Endoscopy manufactured and sold by Mayer & Phelps, 1939.
Box 5: Catalogues including: 1. Surgical Instruments Appliances and Hospital Equipment, Down Bros. and Mayer & Phelps Ltd, London and Toronto (1955); 2. Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances, Down Bros. Ltd, 1936; 3.The Chiron Catalogue of Surgical Instruments, 1931; 4. Buenos Aires Exhibition, 1910: Surgical Instruments and Aseptic Hospital Furniture (1910); 5. Aseptic Furniture, Sterilizers, Etc. for Operation Theatres, Hospital Wards [and] Consulting Rooms (1935); 6. Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances, 1906; 7. Surgical Instruments, Appliances and Hospital Equipment: A Reference List by Allen and Hanburys Limited, 1930; 8. The Extra Pharmacopoeia, Eleventh Edition (1912); 9. Bone Surgery Fractures etc., Catalogue (1951); 10. Bone Surgery Fractures etc., Catalogue (1945); 11. The Directory of Emergency and Special Care Units (1988); 12. Downs Hospital Price List, April 1987; 13. Downs Personal Products UK Price List, Ostomy and Incontinence Aids, 1981; 14. Downs Instruments Equipment Orthopaedic Products Price List, June 1988; 15. Downs Ostomy and Incontinence Aids Price List, 31 December 1984; 16. Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Supplement, 1955; 17. Downs Ostomy and Incontinence Aids International Price List, 1 April 1984.
One bronze plaque of Arthur W Down, founder of the Downs company. The plaque reads 'Arthur W Down / 1853-1947 / Founded This / Firm in 1879' plaque.
Box 1: Training Manual for Micro-T Instrumentation in Neurosurgery, Otology and Ophthalmology; Research paper, titled 'Analysis of Forty Sugita Surgical Aneurysm Clips Selected from Downs Inventory of Quarantined Clips, September 1, 1984'; diagrams of objects including forceps, moffat suckers, needle holders; folder titled 'Standardization' (containing correspondence, notes and diagrams relating to the standardization of surgical instruments); journal articles relating to the corrosion of metals; journal article titled 'The Significance of Metallic Transfer in Orthopaedic Surgery' (1955); journal titled 'An Investigation of the Torsion Strength of Screws Produced by Four Different Dies' (1961); patent drawings; folder titled 'Workshop Practice' ; folder of specifications, correspondence and patent drawings for the production of forceps, techincal data for the Downs Electronic Metal Locator.
Box 2: Archive of material relating to Titanium Implants sent by Downs to their representative, D J Barker. Includes memoranda, journal extracts and articles, patent drawings; copy of Cast 8 Preservation of Sharp Edges Progress Report, 1987-1988; brochure by Downs titled 'Titanium in Relation to Surgery'; photocopy of Patent Applications by Downs titled 'Incontinence appliance for male personal wear' in 1982 and 1986; brochures on the history of Titanium; copy of the entry submitted by Downs for the Cutlers Prize in 1990 titled 'Technique and Instrumentation for Percutaneous Discectomy'; copy of a patent application produced by D R Bevan titled 'Vaginal Speculum and Methods of Use.
Box 3: Smiths Industries Medical Systems Group Brochure (which Downs was part of); copy of Downs' lightbulb evaluation report, 1986; pattern drawings of a Strauss Sigmoidoscope designed by Downs (not approved for production); folder of drawings approved for production including of a Waltons Retractor, Siegle Pneumatic Speculum; folder of pattern drawings of catalogue items including prostheses; blank 'Downs Surgical Limited' notepaper; programme of events for the Downs Surgical Limited European Dealers Conference held at the Old Ship Hotel, Brighton in 1976; purchase order dated 1941; advertising leaflet for the charity 'ECHO: Equipment to Charity Hospitals Overseas'; copy of Smiths Industries Technical Department Report produced by D R Bevan in December 1987; brochure of abstracts for the "Arthrodesis and Instrumentation of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine' symposium published by The Royal Society of Medicine, September 1990; catalogue of sale products produced by Aesculap Limited; copy of patent for an aspiration needle produced by Downs, 1983; copy of patent application for a biopsy needle produced by Downs, 1982; sample of safety pins; scrapbook of surgeons' needles.
Box 4: Catalogues including 1. A Catalogue of Instruments used in the practice of Laryngology Rhinology and Otology and Peroral Endoscopy manufactured and sold by Mayer & Phelps, 1939; 2. Surgical Instruments, Hospital Supplies, Appliances & Equipment Catalogue Twentieth Edition (1961); 3. 'Showroom'; 4. Surgical Instruments Appliances and Hospital Equipment - Down Bros Volume 1., including price list for 1952; 5. A Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Medical Appliances, Operation Tables, Sterilizers, Hospital Equipment, Sterilized Surgical Dressings, Surgical Sutures and Ligatures, Allen and Hanburys Limited (1938); 6. John Weiss and Son Ophthalmic Instruments and Appliances, 1966; 7. A Catalogue of Instruments used in the practice of Laryngology Rhinology and Otology and Peroral Endoscopy manufactured and sold by Mayer & Phelps, 1939.
Box 5: Catalogues including: 1. Surgical Instruments Appliances and Hospital Equipment, Down Bros. and Mayer & Phelps Ltd, London and Toronto (1955); 2. Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances, Down Bros. Ltd, 1936; 3.The Chiron Catalogue of Surgical Instruments, 1931; 4. Buenos Aires Exhibition, 1910: Surgical Instruments and Aseptic Hospital Furniture (1910); 5. Aseptic Furniture, Sterilizers, Etc. for Operation Theatres, Hospital Wards [and] Consulting Rooms (1935); 6. Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances, 1906; 7. Surgical Instruments, Appliances and Hospital Equipment: A Reference List by Allen and Hanburys Limited, 1930; 8. The Extra Pharmacopoeia, Eleventh Edition (1912); 9. Bone Surgery Fractures etc., Catalogue (1951); 10. Bone Surgery Fractures etc., Catalogue (1945); 11. The Directory of Emergency and Special Care Units (1988); 12. Downs Hospital Price List, April 1987; 13. Downs Personal Products UK Price List, Ostomy and Incontinence Aids, 1981; 14. Downs Instruments Equipment Orthopaedic Products Price List, June 1988; 15. Downs Ostomy and Incontinence Aids Price List, 31 December 1984; 16. Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Supplement, 1955; 17. Downs Ostomy and Incontinence Aids International Price List, 1 April 1984.
One bronze plaque of Arthur W Down, founder of the Downs company. The plaque reads 'Arthur W Down / 1853-1947 / Founded This / Firm in 1879' plaque.
Conditions governing access
Open. This collection is not fully catalogued; please contact Collections team for access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Not permitted
Language
English
