Next Dose Medicine Spoon No. 182: package and spoon
Name/Title
Medicine spoon: Next Dose Medicine Spoon No. 182. Issued by Willow Pharmacy, 904 Willow Ave., Hoboken. N.d., ca. 1930-1950.
Entry/Object ID
2014.013.0008
Description
Medicine spoon: Next Dose Medicine Spoon No. 182. Issued by Willow Pharmacy, 904 Willow Avenue, Hoboken. No date, circa 1930-1950.
Issued to customers to help them take proper dosage and remind them of the time for next dose. Promotional advertising item.
Original printed cardboard package with stamped metal measuring spoon with clock and movable indicator dial.
Package: 4-3/4" wide x 1-13/16" high x 3/8" thick; lacking right flap; printed on front panel only. Printing in dark blue ink including logo and depiction of the product. Text at the left: The Movable Indicator on the Dial Records the Time for Next Dose.
Spoon, stamped "Double Plated" metal: same overall dimensions as package; spoon bowl stamped "TEA" thus teaspoon capacity with bowl level markings for measuring 1/2 and 1 teaspoons. Hole at top for hanging or lanyard.
Other than trade mark name, there is no maker's name or address. See notes.
Stamped on top: Willow Pharmacy
Stamped on one side:
904 Willow Ave.,
Hoboken, N.J.
Stamped on opposite side (inverted)
Hob.3-3311
[note: seven digit telephone number in use from 1929 onward]
Acquisition
Accession
2014.013
Source or Donor
Lukacs, Claire
Acquisition Method
Gift
Credit Line
Museum Collections. Gift of a friend of the Museum.
Made/Created
Date made
1930 - 1950
Notes
Date: 1930-1950
General Notes
Note
Notes: Excerpt from:
https://ehive.com/account/4339/object/121297/Morgan_Bushey_Next_Dose_Medicine_Spoon
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From: Dr. Jack Fincham
Fincham Collection 027
About this object
This spoon was patented in 1927 by H.D. Morgan & F.P. Bushey. The spoon was unique in that there was a representation of a clock with a movable dial at the end of the spoon. This was the very first US device to attempt to help patients with compliance with medications by alerting them to when the 'next dose' of the medication was called for. These spoons were sold and/or provided by retail drugstores with the the name of the pharmacy inscribed on the top of the spoon handle. The side of the spoon had the inscription No. 182 etched on it. Each spoon regardless of pharmacy where sold had the No. 182 inscription.
Maker: H.D. Morgan & F.P. Bushey
Maker Role: American Inventor
Date Made: 1927
Place Made: San Francisco, California, USA
Subject and Association Description
These Next Dose spoons were marketed until the 1960s in the United States. Unfortunately, the further paths crossed by Messieurs Morgan and Bushey cannot be further elucidated. Nor can further information be identified for the eventual marketer of the Next Dose spoon. What we can surmise is that the use of specialized devices to administer and remind patients about dosing is not new. There is scant mention of compliance in the literature too years ago, but pharmacies and patients no doubt found these devices to be useful. For the pharmacist, advertising on the spoon provided a reminder of their services, and for the patient, a reminder was present on the body of the spoon to remind them of the next dosing time. Most medications during this time were in liquid form, and a device to help accurately measure liquid, elixir, tonic, and suspensions was a highly sought-after item welcomed by patients and/or caregivers.
Patent number: 1619878; Filing date: 13 Nov 1924; Issue date: 8 Mar 1927
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Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2014-06-03
