Welch Allyn Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Gauge)
Scientific instrument / Medical equipment • Welch Allyn (Manufacturer); Tycos Division
Style & Movement
Industrial Design / Utilitarian Functionalism
Medium & Technique
Assembled industrial materials: plastic housing, glass/acrylic face, laser-engraved dial, rubber bulb, and mechanical manometric components
Creation Period
Modern (Circa 1990s-2000s based on branding and laser-engraving technology)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 6 x 6 inches (Dial face); Square format
Subject Description
A wall-mounted aneroid sphygmomanometer dial featuring a high-contrast black face with white numerical markings (0-300 mmHg) and a red indicator needle. The composition is focused on legibility and clinical precision within a square frame.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair/Good; Functional components appear intact but show signs of use and surface dust
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 USD (Secondary market value as used medical equipment)
Auction Estimate
$30 - $80 USD
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a clinical or hospital setting; indicates institutional use rather than private collection
Art Historical Significance
Representational of late 20th-century industrial medical design; significant for the evolution of non-mercurial diagnostic tools and the 'Tycos' line of precision pressure instruments.
Notable Features
Includes 'Lifetime Certified' SN 0708113420L, 'Made in Germany' mark, and 'Laser Engraved' dial notice, indicating a high-precision manufacturing process.
Condition Issues
Visible surface dust, minor scuffing on the plastic casing, potential calibration drift over time, and a scratch on the transparent faceplate.
Conservation Recommendations
Non-abrasive cleaning of the faceplate; professional recalibration if intended for use; storage in a climate-controlled environment to prevent rubber degradation of the bulb.