Alderfer Auction To Offer Important Historical Biometric Prosthetics As Part Of Collectors Auction

Alderfer Auction To Offer Important Historical Biometric Prosthetics As Part Of Collectors Auction

Written by: Bob Lucas

On July 24, 2025 Alderfer Auction, as part of Alderfer’s Collectors auction, will offer a pair of prototypes of biometric prosthetic arms that were developed in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s to provide a working mechanical limb for soldiers that had lost limbs due to injuries received in military actions during the Vietnam War. These prototypes are part of the estate of Donald R. Taylor Jr. (1927-2020), an electrical engineer who helped further this program that was being run at the Biokinetics Laboratory of the Krussen Center for Research & Engineering at the Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Taylor’s expertise was utilized in developing better bioelectric sensors that could detect bioelectric signals in the residual limb. These bioelectric sensors and their improvements were the driving force to improve movement and dexterity in the prosthetic limb.

Accompanying the prototypes are an archive of period news clippings and magazine articles lauding the development of these prosthetics and hope for the future. Within this archive are also a pair of 16mm films recording the testing of these prototypes by two Vietnam War United States Marines that had been wounded and lost limbs.

The first film documents the testing of the prosthetic arm with Corporal Bobby Kelly Masters (1946-2018) who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1969. In Vietnam in 1969 Masters was severely wounded in combat losing both of his arms. He was awarded a Purple Heart, discharged and then returned to school earning an Associates degree from Snead State Community College and a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Auburn University. Masters would later serve in various positions helping handicap veterans and people as well as being a vocational rehab counselor.

The second film documents the prosthetic testing with 1st Lieutenant Patrick Cleburne McClary who in 1968 while on his 19th reconnaissance mission in Vietnam was severely wounded resulting in the loss of his left arm and left eye. In the two years following his injuries McClary spent more than two years in military hospitals having 30 surgeries to address his wounds. For his service and wounds, he was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. He is currently a motivational and religious speaker. This work at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania resulted in advances that helped improve prosthetic development that has given hope to improve the lives of persons who have catastrophically lost limbs because of war, accidents, or medical conditions.

Alderfer Auction is proud to offer these medical prototypes as evidence of scientific programs designed to help the afflicted and as evidence of human resiliency and the ability to push forward in the face of adversity. For more information about this item, please contact us at 215.393.3000 or email conditionreport@alderferauction.com.