DeVilbiss Pulmo-Aide Model 501642
date: label: date made
content: ca 1971
name: label: user
content: Ebsen, Buddy
label: maker
content: DeVilbiss Company
notes: label: Description
content: The DeVilbiss Pulmo-Aide consists of a portable, electric air compressor (DeVilbis Model 501, Patent D-174901) and a clear plastic nebulizer (DeVilbiss No. 42) with tubing to connect to air compressor. The tubing has a white plastic connector/valve at one end (to connect to nebulizer) and a metal connector at the other end (which connects to compressor). The body of the nebulizer unscrews in the middle for ease of cleaning. The original cardboard box for the Pulmo-Aid has a photo of a woman using the nebulizer on the front label along with the text, " Pulmo-Aide Model 501642 / The efficient way to nebulize medication for the treatment of: asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. / Easy-to-Use, High Quality Aerosol Therapy Equipment". The box also includes three paper inserts: "Portable Compressors Service Instructions" (form SI-3003-B dated 3/71); "Pulmo-Aide Instructions and Accessories;" and one perforated mail-in registration card / purchaser warranty card (No 80897).
label: Description
content: To operate the Pulmo-Aide: fill the nebulizer with the prescribed medication and attach the tubing to the air compressor. Turn air compressor on and hold nebulizer to mouth. Place finger over the valve and inhale deeply, holding breath for a few seconds. Release valve and exhale slowly.
label: Description
content: This nebulizer was used by the actor/entertainer Buddy Epsen (1908-2003). Ebsen was originally cast to play the Tin Man in the movie The Wizard of Oz, but he had a severe reaction to the aluminum dust used in the makeup and had to leave the production. Ebsen was prone to respiratory problems for the remainder of his life.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Somerset
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
label: See more items in
content: Health & Medicine
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Dorothy Ebsen
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2019.0153.01
label: catalog number
content: 2019.0153.01
label: accession number
content: 2019.0153
objectType: label: Object Name
content: nebulizer
label: Object Name
content: drug delivery device
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cardboard; paper (packaging material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal; plastic (compressor material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (nebulizer material)
label: Measurements
content: overall (box): 20.5 cm x 23 cm x 12.5 cm; 8 1/16 in x 9 1/16 in x 4 29/32 in
label: Measurements
content: compressor: 17 cm x 21 cm x 11.5 cm; 6 11/16 in x 8 9/32 in x 4 17/32 in
label: Measurements
content: nebulizer: 9 cm x 4.5 cm; 3 17/32 in x 1 25/32 in