Dr. West's Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush - Syracuse University Libraries Digital Collections

Title

Dr. West's Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush

Date of Original

circa 1938-1950

Format of Original

["Artifacts (object genre)"]

Source Collection

["Plastics Artifacts Collection"]

Object Details

Title

Dr. West's Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush

Description

Child's toothbrush. Blue handle with white nylon bristles, in clear glass case labeled "Child's Dr. West's Miracle-Tuft."

H. N. Wadsworth was the first American to patent a toothbrush of bone and animal bristle - in 1857 (US Patent No. 18,653). American Companies soon began to mass-produce toothbrushes after 1885. The biggest change was the introduction of nylon bristles in 1938 and their subsequent rapid and widespread acceptance, since they were more durable and more hygienic than animal bristles, which also tended to fall out easily.

Dr. West's Miracle Toothbrush produced by the Weco Products Company introduced the new DuPont nylon fibers in 1938. Since then, modern toothbrush has consisted of a plastic handle and nylon bristles attached to the head of the brush. Brushing teeth was promoted in the army during World War II. Like many plastics manufacturers, Weco Products advertised that it was doing its part for the war effort. An ad form 1943 stated that:

Today proper care of the teeth - the beauty treatment that has always been a health safeguard too, is more important than ever before. A sparkling smile reveals that you're on the right road to health. And America's health is vitally important to victory. This wartime need to keep fit is making thousands of Americans realize that their old toothbrushes just won't do. They're getting a Dr. West's Miracle- Tuft. For only with Miracle-Tuft do you get the greater tooth-cleansing efficiency of "EXTON's brand bristling, the health safeguard of surgically sterile glass packaging and the economy of a full year of effective service. Be prepared in health as in all other things to serve your country. Equip every member of your family with a Dr. West's Miracle-Tuft.

Date of Original

circa 1938-1950

Subjects (Plastics Pioneers)

["Personal Care and Toiletries"]

Manufacturer

["E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company"]

Client

["Weco Products Co."]

Type

["Physical object"]

Format of Original

["Artifacts (object genre)"]

Material

["Cellulosics","Nylon (Polyamide) (PA)","Cellulosics--Cellulose Acetate (CA)"]

Process

["Extrusion","Injection Molding"]

Source Collection

["Plastics Artifacts Collection"]

Finding Aid

View the Plastics Artifacts Collection finding aid

MMS ID

9940932883408496

Catalog Record Link

View the catalog record

Rights Status

["Copyright Not Evaluated"]

Accession Number

2003.316

Quartex ID

plastics_art_01348

Item Details

Title

Date of Original

circa 1938-1950

Type

[ "Physical object" ]