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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Eye masseur or Ideal Sight Restorer, in box, by The Ideal Company, New York, U.S.A., 134 West 65th Street, early 20th century
Made by the Ideal Company, this unusual device – an eye massager – promised to cure imperfect vision and eye diseases such as cataracts which cause blindness. The rubber cups are placed on closed eyelids and the rubber circle in the middle squeezed. This produced suction every time the circle was pressed, creating a massaging effect.
It was invented by Charles A Tyrrell who owned The Ideal Company. Tyrrell was a masseur who qualified as a doctor in 1900. He was condemned by the medical establishment as a quack and a fake for producing products with dubious medical credentials such as the Ideal Sight Restorer.
Details
- Category:
- Ophthalmology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A640123
- Measurements:
-
eye masseur: 29 mm x 85 mm x 90 mm, .06 kg
Box: 50 mm x 112 mm x 112 mm, .06 kg
Box open to 90 degrees: 120 mm x 112 mm x 130 mm, .06 kg
- type:
- eye massager
