Antique British Military Mahogany and Brass Pill Roller by MAW London c1810

Here on offer is a fine and rare example of an antique British military, mahogany and brass pill roller by MAW, later S. Maw & Sons, London, circa 1810.

What makes this larger 24 slot, 5 grain version so unusual is the fact it is stamped on the brass cutting plate with the British military's Broad Arrow, or “Crows Foot”, a stylised representation of an arrowhead, used to identify British government property, particularly military equipment.

I can’t find another example like it and it was clearly used by a British military medical team/doctor back in the days when they had to produce their own pills, to treat the serving soldiers and personnel.

Along with the Broad Arrow mark, it is stamped with a very early maker’s mark, that is now faint, but reads as:

MAW
LONDON

The name MAW has been associated with a whole range of British made chemist's sundries, dressings, surgical appliances and instruments, for nearly 200 years.' The company grew out of a wholesale druggist company in London and the later instrument maker.

The company was founded by Hornby and Maw in 1807, was listed as George Maw and Son in 1826, S. Maw and Son in 1860 and S. Maw and Son and Thompson in 1870.

In 1901 it was still in Maw hands as S. Maw, Son, and Sons.' Based at 55 Aldermanbury, London.
Therefore, as this example just has the original MAW maker’s stamp, it must date to between 1807 and 1826.

It would have been used during the many early 19th century British conflicts that took place, such as the Napoleonic Wars (1802 -1813).

Pill machines such as these first appeared in the mid-1700s and quickly became a staple of the Georgian and later Victorian chemist’s shop.

The largest part of the machine is the board. This is set at an angle and is comprised of the rolling surface, the cutting grooves, and the collection-tray.

The large flat surface is for rolling out the pill-paste into the sausage shape. This is then rolled towards the brass cutting-grooves.

The paddle is flipped over so that the grooves there line up with the grooves on the board.

Rollers on the ends of the paddle roll against the brass edges of the board, and they guide the paddle straight across the grooves, taking the pill-mass with it.

The grooves on the paddle and the board slice up the pill-mass and, after rolling the paddle back and forth a couple of times like a rolling-pin, the circular pills roll off the grooves and into the slotted, removable tray at the bottom.

This example has 24 groves and produces a 5 grain size pill. The cutting plate is stamped with the division numbers, 1, 6,12,18 and 24, the makers name and Crows Foot and 5 GRAIN.

The top of the rolling surface is stamped with the number 18 which is also stamped on the top of the paddle along with the word: FRONT.
The pill maker is in excellent condition with no cracks or splits to the mahogany wood and the brass fittings all now have a bright finish with some age patina.

The board measures 12.6” (32cm) by 7.8” (19.8cm) and the paddle is 18.25” (46.4cm) wide.

It weighs a heavy 2.9Kg.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51790