Masticator is made of two formed pieces of metal hinged by a single screw near the blades; object has a scissor like construction with two straight handles that curve outward at the top and lead to six straight blades, three on each side which have spaces between them that fit the blades from the o…
Masticator is made of two formed pieces of metal hinged by a single screw near the blades; object has a scissor like construction with two straight handles that curve outward at the top and lead to six straight blades, three on each side which have spaces between them that fit the blades from the other side; there is a spring attached to the handles where they curve outward; at the bottom of the proper left handle there is a T shaped piece of metal which folds out to meet a groove on the bottom of the proper right handle to close and latch the handles together; there is a cross hatched design on the outside of both handles
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Donated by Dr. Martin T. Jeremias to the University of Alberta and its library; collection was then donated to the museum via Dr. Merrill Distad
Dates
1900
1915
circa 1900-1915
Date Remarks
Date based on research and The Kny-Scheerer Company Surgical Instruments Catalogue
Material
metal: silver
Inscriptions
Stamped onto the inside of each handle: "19"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B
Temporary Location
MHC 2017 Public Program: Seniors Program - Say Cheese: History of Dentures and Dental Health, July 2017
Length
18.0 cm
Width
4.5 cm
Depth
2.0 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
All blades are showing signs of red corrosion; corrosion is also present on both handles; visible scratches are present all over the object.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Internet
Reference Comments
"The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry website"; "Illustrations of Surgical Instruments of Superior Quality," 21st ed., Kny-Scheerer Co., ca. 1915, p. 3297 (similar to model # C/-15837) (see attached photocopy)
Research Facts
Masticators were used to pre-chew food for people who had poor dentition or had lost their teeth; the use of non-porous materials for the construction of this item suggests it was made during the post-Lister era.