Early Bowles Ford Combination Stethoscope, circa 1905
A Bowles combination stethoscope was patented in 1902. It had a diaphragm chest piece, which was intended to be used interchangeably with a Ford chest piece. This was the first type of combination bell and diaphragm stethoscope. The photos shown above are the Pilling version of this stethoscope, c. 1910. The stethoscope is displayed with the Bowles diaphragm chest piece separate from the Albion Ford chest piece and with the Bowles diaphragm chest piece inserted by a Bloomfield connector into the Ford bell, converting the stethoscope to a Bowles diaphragm model.
Klagges model of this stethoscope, c. 1940. The stethoscope has plastic Ford bell and Bowles diaphragm chest pieces displayed in the same manner. Note the metal cover that is clipped onto the Bowles chest piece to protect the plastic diaphragm when it is not in use for auscultation.