Description

Copied from a documented original in our collection is this elegant genuine bone handled toothbrush with real animal bristle brush. We have handled many documented examples of Civil War era toothbrushes which were brought from home, private purchased, sold by sutlers, etc. Handle is simply marked “Extra-Fine” as in the original item. The handle, all hand carved, sports fine incise lines and the end is shaped in a federal shield design. (beware cheap modern style “synthetic bone” handles being sold as the real thing – now in the market, also please be aware of a recently offered lot of “new old stock” European toothbrushes being sold on various websites as like new and “perfectly useable”. We had an opportunity to buy these brushes in some quantity but ultimately declined. They are 50+ years old and the original seller was unwilling to warrant any information as to their sanitation or storage conditions now or during the interim decades since manufacture. We are not making any accusation or desiring to cast aspersion upon any current seller of the product, just stating what we believe is pertinent information for our customers concerning the item)   The overall length of the toothbrush is 6″ with a longer brush area and a somewhat lower handle to brush ratio than modern brushes, as per the reference descriptions and original examples observed of this period design. Our customers may or may not be aware that in the past two years, the current availability of bone handled toothbrushes, by far the most common of the period, had become extremely thin. Prior to their current virtual disappearance, the wholesale and retail prices tripled and quadrupled. The last remaining available retail price we are aware of comes from a UK source at $45.00 per piece, plus shipping. Having been able to secure a small lot of blanks near the end of the availability, our brushes are a very limited supply and therefore restricted to one per customer. Our price reflects our significantly increased cost of the item  and the cost of the improvements we make to them, and yet we are happy to have any quantity of this important personal item to offer, even as a non-profit item to go with our other goods. We have absolutely no intention nor desire to exploit the current supply and demand conditions and continue to work to find new sources and/or develop new makers. Historical Note: Some years ago now an online discussion was brought to my attention in which it was asserted by a participant that the hole in the end of a toothbrush handle was a later feature because he thought it was where the more modern soft rubber pick was attached, and he had “never seen” an original with a hole. We have handled hundreds of dug and undug documented CW period toothbrushes, some with holes, some without. While the rubber pick is a later feature the hole is not, and was originally intended for a lanyard. Maybe if more had been employed, we would find less toothbrushes in dug privies – maybe because they were employed is why we have found less examples with the hole from that particular source! While it may be generally true that the lanyard hole was first “promoted as a feature” by a large commercial manufacture in the US in the immediate post war period (1870s) as an “improved drying method”, it is documented with indisputable provenance that other domestic makers and import makers placed such a lanyard hole even in the pre-war period. (the larger commercial company probably swiped the idea from one of them – leave it to such an enterprise to sell a simple hole as such a remarkable improvement with such a grandiose purpose! There promotion, rather than the actual introduction of the feature, was done during a period when increased attention was being given to the possibility of disease coming from brushes that were not dried properly and possibly retaining bacteria. Other makers begin to promote and drill drain holes into the side of the end where the bristles were woven to aid in drying as well) The point being it was not for the purpose asserted by the online participant, the time period was erroneously implied, and incorrect at any rate. It has also been asserted similarly that “all” handles of CW era toothbrushes were curved. (apparently in direct response to a question concerning our toothbrushes – versus a curved one then offered by a competing vendor – for the record we were never offered the courtesy of being directly contacted by anyone to ascertain our position) As stated, the opinion was based on looking at a few references, unnamed museum collections, and handling a few originals with unpublished provenance. I am not questioning the intent nor the right to express the opinion, just availing our friends of our current conclusions upon over 45 years of collecting, research, dealing, and consulting on CW era personal items and material culture. Again, based upon handling hundreds of originals toothbrushes many with indisputable provenance, we have found some with curved handles and MANY that were straight as an arrow. Frankly, we have no ability to state whether some of the curved ones were made that way – or it occurred with age, use, and abuse – likely it is both. Many of these toothbrushes either have only a dealer marking with no maker markings, or no markings at all. Bone warps AND toothbrushes were manufactured both straight and purposely curved, in BOTH DIRECTIONS, with differing degrees of what is known as “cranking”, for decades before the war and after by various manufacturers – often with the same handle design. (NOTE: a relatively recent publication dealing with the use of bone toothbrushes to assist in dating archaeological sites uses a typology and dating matrix that must be carefully viewed and is not intended to be singular or definitive by itself as a method. While it supports our research as stated and it has very valuable information, it is not, nor does it purport to be unequivocal in it’s application. It deals with some specifics and many generalities with a valuable but quite finite sample and a broad spectrum as a scientific exercise) BEWARE “historians” and “researchers” with small amounts of data and limited experience, utilizing singular or poorly understood resources, who cavalierly extrapolate them into statements using the words “never” and “ever” as it relates to material facts. As always, we press forward against the dogma with the goal of revealing a balanced and accurate historical picture of CW era material culture. “the more I learn – the less I realize I know!”