Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Olga Crawford Canadian Dental Collection
Category
Dental
Dental instruments
Classification
Dental
Dental Instruments
Accession Number
010020538 a-f
Description
Two mid-18th century reproduction toothkeys (a-b) in original two piece blue manufacturers cardboard mailing box (c-d), and small paper booklet (e) stored in glassine envelope (f); toothkeys made of two pieces of turned metal solid rod joined together to form a 'T' shape with top of the 'T' creat…
Two mid-18th century reproduction toothkeys (a-b) in original two piece blue manufacturers cardboard mailing box (c-d), and small paper booklet (e) stored in glassine envelope (f); toothkeys made of two pieces of turned metal solid rod joined together to form a 'T' shape with top of the 'T' creates hand grip; adjustable semi-circular claw swings out from bottom of shaft; box has white base (c) and a blue lid (d) with the manufacturers white ten pointed star Astra logo; booklet explains the history and use of the toothkey.
Number Of Parts
6
Part Names
a - toothkey - Size: Length 11.7 cm cm x Width 9.4 cm x Depth 2.1 cm
b - toothkey - Size: Length 11.7 cm cm x Width 9.4 cm x Depth 2.1 cm
c - box bottom - Size: Length 12.0 cm x Width 9.5 cm x Depth 2.2 cm
d - box top - Size: Length 12.7 cm x Width 10.8 cm x Depth 2.2 cm
e - booklet - Size: Length 11.4 cm Width 8.9 cm x Depth 0.2 cm
f - glassine envelope - Size: Length 15.0 cm Width 9.6 cm
Provenance
Transfer from the Dental Canada Fund; previously housed in the Dentistry Canada Museum (Ottawa)
Date based on price of postage and lack of postal code
Material
metal: brown
paper: blue, white
glassine: cream
ink: black; red
Inscriptions
Printed on box lid (d): "ASTRA"; typewritten box bottom (c) on paper mailing label: "Dr. Harold Mitchell, // 412 Power Bldg., // Winnipeg, Man. // CANADA // POSTAGE PAID // 5c. // NO. 7659 // TORONTO"; title of article in booklet (e) "TURNKEY // ANOTHER INSTRUMENT // FOR DRAWING TEETH"; printed on the back of the booklet: "Astra Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Limited // Cooksville, Ontario" and at the bottom: "CANADIAN PAT. NO. 503,645 MADE IN CANADA PRINTED IN CANADA"
Permanent Location
(a-d): Storage Room 0010
0010-C7-6
(e-f): Storage Room 2005
2005-2-5 Box 22
Condition Remarks
Toothkeys with minor scratches over surfaces; box bottom with minor creases in various spots; box lid shows wear around edges with minor watermarks; glassine envelope has major tear along left front and upper right, severly creased along top and minor at bottom
Copy Type
Replica
Reference Types
Document
Internet
Book
Reference Comments
Astra Pharmaceuticals (Canada); "Pitt Rivers Museum" website; "The Finest Instruments Ever Made", Audrey B. Davis and Mark S. Dreyfuss, 1986, p. 218
Research Facts
Toothkeys were designed to extract teeth. Also known as a 'turnkey', the claw was made to fit around a tooth and hold it firmly in place while using force to pull or extract the tooth. Turnkey Another Instrument for Drawing Teeth