devilbiss no. 127 atomizer, bell-shaped with bulb and plastic tip

In the small number of years I have been collecting, I have already accumulated four atomizers. I had never heard of or seen an atomizer before I met Evelyn, a retired pharmacist in Davie, FL. I found her through an antique shop in which I asked the owner if they were selling any pharmacy antiques. She said no, but that there was a pharmacist who used to have a booth there. After they gave me and my dad her contact information, we were soon driving to her house to shop through some of her private collection.

Evelyn had a level of collectible I had not even considered before... documents, devices, higher priced bottles, etc. I was in heaven and ended up leaving with $200 worth of antiques, Two of these were the DeVilbiss Atomizer No. 12 and No. 127.

devilbiss atomizer, umbrella-shaped green base with gold tip

divilbiss atomizer no.12 with original box

I couldn't have spent more than $20 for them. They seemed fascinating, and I wondered why I had never seen them before, not in books or movies or photographs.

Once I got into ebay purchasing many years later, I came across another atomizer for sale. This one wasn't DeVilbiss, however, but it came in its original box with paperwork. And for a bargain price of not more than $9 including shipping, I decided I could have regrets later.

The most recent atomizer is Dr. Dobell's atomizer No. 125. It was sold by People's Drug Store, a chain in Washington, DC.

dr. dobell's atomizer no 125 with paperwork and box