Medical Devices And Surgical Tools From The Past On Display At Collector Steve Erenberg's Home
Science and medicine are ever evolving. In a matter of days something can go from being revolutionary to the next "quack device." Steve Erenberg, an upstate New York native, is a collector of the stranger devices we've seen, according to a recent SciFri video.
Erenberg has collected a variety of devices over the past 30 years, including masks, helmets, prosthetics, and nebulizers. He says that despite never being good at math or science in school, he was able to see the beauty in the art of these devices. "They have an aura about them," he said.
The devices are made in all shapes, sizes, and materials; however, one thing he's noticed has changed over time are the aesthetics. "The more important it looked, the better people thought it worked and the more money the doctor would get," he said.
According to a 2004 article from The New York Times, Erenberg has spent an upwards of $1,500 shopping for devices on eBay each week.
Perhaps his favorite devices to collect are early anatomical models. He says some people will ask him if these have to do with S&M (sadomasochism), but he laughs it off and assures them they served a real medical purpose.
Erenberg says that one day people are going to look back at the thing we used to day and view them as quick devices, too.
"That’s what science is, it's always changing."