Advertisement for Kimball's anti-rheumatic ring
Mail order card, 1900-1909
Using this card, customers could buy an anti-rheumatic ring from
FW Kimball (of 84 Oxford Street, London) by mail order. It
has nine circular holes in it that relate the cross-sectional
size of fingers to numbered ring sizes. To order a ring you simply
sent off your money, quoting a number from the hole in the card
that fitted the finger on which you wanted to wear the ring, and
Kimball's would send you one by return of post. It is printed in
black on white card featuring the trademark symbol of a hand
wearing a ring on the little finger.
Kimball claimed in other literature that wearing the (probably
copper) ring would cause a 'speedy and permanent cure for
rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago, sciatica, gout and all other
diseases where a general warming, quickening, strengthening and
equalization of the circulation are required.' Copper is still
believed to have a 'positive influence on blood circulation and
metabolism…detoxifying the body' and to relieve rheumatic
conditions.