Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

Well I'm glad I brought this up in the first place as I have learned some things.

For everybody's knowledge the reasons I quickly suspected the item this thread is mainly about:

1. The manufacturer's name is written on the handle of the toothbrush in a font style that is streamlined and very modern--a style very common in the Art Deco era of the 1920's-40's. Civil War makers names were usually stamped with capital, stately letters, look at this picture for an example:http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...pictureid=3726

2. Makers name screams modern advertising. Think about it: "Decoater". In the CW era the makers often stamped their name and what town the item was made in like:

David H. Ellison
New York

3. The trade mark on the handle

4. The low number of bristles. Brushes from the era sometimes had up to around 88 bristles! The Decoater toothbrush only has about 26.

5. Something about the curves just doesn't look right when you have seen a lot of these. They did have handles that curved in the CW era, but the lines on this one are... just wrong. Modern.

My first clue on this item--well, I'm not quick on trademarks and such--but I'm figuring that little hole on the end of the handle was not a normal feature in 1860something, as today it contains the little rubber tip used to pick one's teeth.

6. Yes the hole. I haven't found one correctly dated to the CW era that had a hole in the handle yet.

There you have it!

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

PS click on my user name and I have lots of photos in my albums. Some other intersting CW stuff too besides such "trivial" items as toothbrushes.:wink_smil

[ewtaylor]

Re: Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

First clue to avoid an Ebay seller - Winning bidder: User ID kept private Any seller that uses the private option offered by Ebay usually has something to hide.

Most of the SCAM artists on Ebay have the "User ID Kept Private" line on their auctions.

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

Most of the SCAM artists on Ebay have the "User ID Kept Private" line on their auctions.

When I first saw this item I E-mailed the seller, telling him I thought it was much later than the Civil War, possibly 1920's or 30's. I described some of the features it should have had to be from the CW era. He said "let me check" and he never got back to me about that item.

So I sent him a link to THIS thread, and for the other similar item (the Ivory and Silver officers dental kit) group ending shortly after the one this thread was originaly about, I sent him something about the J.R. Watkins medical co. that explained that the Watkins company didn't make their stuff in Winona Minn. until 1885. All he said was, "I do not understand your question." It was quite obviously a statement not a question, and backed by hard evidence; so I think he knows what he's really doing.

Yes, it's too bad that there is no way to get a-hold of the buyers.

[csabugler]

Re: Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

Well, at least it wasn't a W.W.I bugle being sold as a "confederate bugle found in granddad's attic with the blood satin still on it" again.....
Theives and crooks and snake-oil peddlers are as prevelant today as they were in the 19th century. Too bad we can't still tar and feather them!!!
But I suppose the tar would get stuck in the keyboard....:sarcastic

[RJSamp]

Re: Do you think this Ebay auction was accurately represented?

Well, at least it wasn't a W.W.I bugle being sold as a "confederate bugle found in granddad's attic with the blood satin still on it" again.....
Theives and crooks and snake-oil peddlers are as prevelant today as they were in the 19th century. Too bad we can't still tar and feather them!!!
But I suppose the tar would get stuck in the keyboard....:sarcastic

Or found on a NC Estate......under a tin roof, by using a metal detector.....saw a glint off of the bugle down in the corner of a dark basement, where it was covered by dust and a cloth sack which is why it still retains its finish....