Early Electrics features a 19th-century anatomical model horse made by Dr. Auzoux and a 1961 radiation dummy with a real skeleton inside.
When you step inside Early Electrics and see the collection of Edison phonographs, antique rescue masks, 19th-century anatomical models, and other curiosities, it may feel like a museum of oddities, but it’s not. Everything is for sale.
Located at the edge of the Hudson River in Peekskill, New York, the shop hosts two floors’ worth of Steve Erenberg’s unique collection, which has been growing for the past 35-40 years. Erenberg, who retired six years ago from a career in advertising, also creates custom lighting designs with his son Daniel for restaurants, hotels and anyone else in need of a distinct style. That work now accounts for the bulk of Early Electrics’ business—and helps illuminate the many strange pieces that fill the space.
A glimpse into Early Electrics.
Perhaps the largest rarity on display is a full-size papier-mâché anatomical horse, designed by French anatomist Dr. Louis Auzoux in the 1870s.
“The horse is pretty special,” Erenberg said. “That was an indulgence.” He found it at an auction about three years ago.
The model features nearly 200 pieces inside, recreating the stomach, heart and other organs—all labeled in French.
“First you had cadavers that they were taking apart – those didn’t last too long, no air conditioning, no refrigeration,” Erenberg explained. “Then you had wax. Wax was unstable. You couldn’t take it apart and put it back together. This was the first of the anatomical models that could be taken apart and put back together.”
The horse stands safely inside a giant glass case extending more than six feet in length. Erenberg happened to have bought it before purchasing the horse.
“I figured I’d find a use for it,” he noted.
Male and female human anatomical models by Auzoux stand nearby, each with their own removable parts that once helped young medical students understand the inner workings of the body.
But right in front of the horse is a very different sort of male model. The translucent, hollow plastic man was created in 1961 to test the effects of hydrogen bomb radiation on humans. Inside you can see the bones of a real skeleton.
“I had to have ConEd come down and test it before I bought it to see if it was radioactive,” Erenberg recalled.
A friend came across the radiation dummy and offered it to him. A lot of his finds come through old friends and new ones who know he’ll be interested in strange, but beautiful antiques.
Need a giant beetle?
Two giant insects, for example, came from a contact in Italy he’s known for 25 years. The bugs are made for museums and are rarely sold.
“I begged him to sell me one,” said Erenberg. “I bought one and sold it, then bought two more with that money.”
Various anatomical heads, an oversized model of eyeballs, a government prototype of a hand made from lucite, antique prosthetics, quack medical devices that shape your nose or fingers as you sleep, and other things you likely never knew existed all complement each other from an aesthetic point of view.
That’s primarily what Erenberg looks for as he collects. “I come from an art background,” he said. “I’m not a scholar; I look for things that will present as an object of art.”
For Erenberg, it’s been an ideal retirement. “I don’t play golf, so I decided to do this with my son,” he said, “The lighting is his thing, but as he’s discovering these things he’s getting into it and becoming knowledgeable.”
There is indeed much to discover. And as his knowledge passes on to his son and any curious customers, the unusual histories within the collection promise to stay alive and well and odd as ever.
A cabinet of curiosities at Early Electrics.
Medical models, plus the headpiece from Robin Williams’ movie, Bicentennial Man, at Early Electrics.
Early Electrics is located at 115 North Water Street, Peekskill, NY 10567. Photos © Marc Hartzman. Want to see more in stereoview? Visit HartzmanStereoviews.com.
