Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

[Nathan Dodds]

Hey,

I was excited to see a toothbrush that actually looked correct on the Sutlers of Fort Scott website. However, there is one thing I could not tell from the picture that I have been wondering if one of you that has bought this item can answer. Does the toothbrush have a curved handle? So far every example I have seen including the dug one from my collection has a curved handle (an earlier example made from silver and belonging to Napoleon (Napolean b.1769 d.1821) did have a straight handle).

[Daniel33]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

I believe it is straight handle. I have a different one I bought from him and its a straight handle but I have been in his shop many times before(since I don't live very far from his shop) and I remember seeing that toothbrush and I believe it was a straight handle.



Daniel Bugner

[RNMCSA]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

The handle is straight.

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Roy, do you have a photo of it? No big deal if you don't...

I was hoping not to hear that... they did say it was a reproduction of an actual piece, so it might still be correct, even though I have never seen one with a straight handle (from the 1860's as I knoted before, there was one earlier verison I have seen but it was 40 years prior to the Civil War). I wanted one with a curved handle becuase they were so common.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Nathan,

Would it be possible for you to post a photo of your original? I'd be interested in seeing it and I'm sure others would too.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Thats funny, I've never seen one with a curved handle! All the ones I have seen were either straight handled or folding handle toothbrushes.

Could it be possible that they were straight when newly manufactured then as it aged, the handle deformed over the years?

[PieBoy96]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

A seller from the Garden State sells a nice toothbrush with a curved handle, apparently copied off an original. Although when adding in unjustified shipping charges for such a small item, it costs around $25. I own one and am not sure about the material of the bristles, but all things considered, I like it.

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Pual, would love to see a photo of your repro. Echoes of Glory is a great place to see lots of curved exaples for those that have any doubts about my research. Plus, I have one dug on a battlefield I will take some photos when I get a chance.

[jessejames70]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

I was at the Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA today. They have a brush there that definitely had a curved handle. I think there was one with a straight handle as well, but I don't remember. Between there and Andersonville I am in overload. Hope this helps a little.

[BobSullivanPress]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Here's a picture of my original toothbrush:

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Here is my dug example. Curved handle. It has about 58 bristle holes. Also interesting to note is the slotted back.

[CompanyWag]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Nathan,

Thanks for posting. Where was this one dug?

BTW, I like your wood species ruler.

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Haha! Thanks. I have some information the toothbrush somewhere... I bought it on Ebay and the seller said it was from a collection of stuff dug in Virginia. If I can find the print off I think it had the battlefield or camp where it was dug listed on it. It does not have rock solid provinence, but I have no reason to doubt the story behind it, based on my own research.

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Toothbrush reproduction question: Sutlers of Fort Scott

Ok, here is the info the seller gave me:

"Years ago I purchased a large collection of excavated relics from the Rich Mt. West Virginia Battlefield. This is Part of that collection." I have long ago learned not to take a sellers words at face value, due to the large amount of dug pocket knives found on Civil War battlefields that were made long after the war... so all I can say is this toothbrush is consistant with others I have seen in Echoes of Glory and museums.