Pill cutter, Europe, 1801-1900

Pill machine for making upto 30 pills by hand

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Pill machine for making upto 30 pills by hand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pill machine for making up to 30 pills by hand, probably 19th century

In the 1800s, pills were cut from a large long roll of a mixture of the drug and cut into pieces. The dosage could be worked out by measuring the length of the roll and dividing by the number of identical pills. This pill cutter allowed the pills to be cut more accurately into equal pieces. It is worked by hand and is capable of making thirty pills in one go. It also has space to roll out the mixture.

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Pill machine

Details

Category:
Pharmacy-ware
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A640431
Materials:
complete, wood (unidentified) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Measurements:
overall - roll: 30 mm x 350 mm x 47 mm, .358 kg
overall - board: 45 mm x 352 mm x 155 mm, .976 kg
type:
pill cutter

Parts

Pill cutter

Pill cutter

Base of a pill cutter and pill making machine, 1801-1900

Materials:
brass and wood
Object Number:
A640431/1
type:
pill cutter
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Pill cutter

Pill cutter

Hand held upper part of a pill cutter and pill making machine, 1801-1900

Materials:
brass and wood
Object Number:
A640431/2
type:
pill cutter
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum