Brief Description

Free standing dental spittoon on cast iron vertical post with fountain and saliva ejector over a glass (ruby) and metal bowl. Connection to waste and mains water by rubber cotton covered hose, floor mounted taps.

History of Object

Obtained from the Australian College of Dentistry in 1963.

Materials and Finishes

References

See Ash catalogue, 1890 and D M Co. catalogue,1890.
Laboratory / Equipment

Brief Description

Instruction book with brown cover for Ritter Unit Equipment Model B, February 1923. Includes very detailed information about installation and surgery use of equipment. Signed 'Mr. Gration', local agent for Ritter. Book produced by Ritter Dental Manufacturing Company Inc., Rochester, New York.

History of Object

Instruction book came from Dr. Ronnie Goldberg. It is most valuable as it will enable the restoration of a unit currently in store.

Materials and Finishes

References

Compare with Dental Musuem Collection item 1672.
Equipment / Clinical

Brief Description

Instruction book with white cover for Ritter Unit Equipment, July 1927 with complete details of installation and maintenance.

History of Object

Instruction book came from Dr. Ronnie Goldberg.

Materials and Finishes

References

Compare with Dental Musuem Collection item 1672.
Equipment / Clinical

Brief Description

Porcelain furnace with compact controls, resistance and muffle in one unit. Has an AM meter, pyrometer and a clock with two adjustable controls. Series resistance in protective cage at the back. Made by Wienand, Germany.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. Watson, a crown and bridge specialist.

Materials and Finishes

References

Laboratory / Clinical

Brief Description

Typical old style Bunsen burner for use with low pressure town gas. Burner has an adjustable air sleeve and was used prior to 1965.

History of Object

Bunsen burner donated by Dr. Watson.

Materials and Finishes

Steel and iron.

References

See Ash catalogue, 1928.
Laboratory / Conservative Dentistry / Dental Prosthetics

Brief Description

Small precision made Bunsen burner for natural gas with a side tube approximately 1.5 mm in diameter, and nickel plated inner and outer burner tubes. Has a grey painted base.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. Watson.

Materials and Finishes

Die cast brass.

References

Laboratory / Equipment

Brief Description

Typical tapered brass blowpipe with turned tip and a very fine hole. Light gauge.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. Watson. These instruments were used in the making of crowns and bridges when it was necessary to solder (silver or gold brazing) two small pieces of metal together. The small hot flame was under the complete control of the operator.

Materials and Finishes

Brass.

References

Key Associations: Silver/Gold Smiths
Laboratory / Equipment

Brief Description

A large (12.0 x 3.5 cm diameter) all brass methylated (alcohol) spirit lamp with screw-on filling cap. The air pipe and jet of the mouth blow pipe are attached by means of an adjustable clip. Air is supplied to the jet through a rubber tube (perished ) fitted with plastic mouth piece. With the usual mouth blow pipe, the operator was limited to holding both the work being soldered and pipe, the use of this instrument left one hand free to manipulate flux and solder. Made by More and Wright, Sheffield, London.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. Watson.

Materials and Finishes

Brass.

References

Laboratory / Equipment

Brief Description

Dental chair typical of the period 1850 to 1900. Similar to Morrison type chair with wind up mechanical elevation, ratchet stop (handle missing), red plush and claw feet.

History of Object

Obtained from the Australian College of Dentistry, 1963. Stored at 711 Elizabeth Street and then went to Villiers Street. Came back to 711 Elizabeth Street in June 1994.

Materials and Finishes

References

Equipment / Clinical (All)

Brief Description

Dental chair with mechanical foot operated 'pump action' (typical), but action unique. Pasted under the seat were instructions for maintenance. 1891 chair.

History of Object

Obtained from the Australian College of Dentistry in 1963. Stored at 711 Elizabeth Street from college in 1963, then to Villiers Street and back to 711Elizabeth Street in June 1994.

Materials and Finishes

References

See separate lists of Villier's Street equipment
Equipment / Clinical

Brief Description

Typical large foot bellows with thick leather. Reservoir of spring controlled variety to maintain constant air pressure. Cast metal foot fractured and repaired by brazing. Similar to Dental Museum Collection item 1554.

History of Object

Bellows came from the Australian College of Dentistry.

Materials and Finishes

References

For a similar item see Dental Museum Collection item 1554.
Workroom / Laboratory / Dental Prosthetics / Conservative Dentistry

Brief Description

Ritter S. S. White two cylinder air compressor mounted on storage pressure tank. Used for surgery and work room air supply. Belt driven from self contained motor. Generally kept in surgery.

History of Object

Obtained from the Australian College of Dentistry in 1963.

Materials and Finishes

References

See S. S. White and Ritter catalogues.
Laboratory / Equipment

Brief Description

Circular brass cylinder with controls for air, gas, petrol and filler cap. Used in conjunction with foot bellows for blowpipe and furnace work in area where town gas was not available.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. William Smithson who had a long standing practice in Tatura near Sheparton.

Materials and Finishes

Brass.

References

See D M Co. catalogue, p. 48 for operating principles.
Mechanical Dentistry / Dental Prosthetics

Brief Description

Cylindrical free standing spittoon with nickel plated spun copper spittoon on top. Fitted with pump for flushing and tumbler filling. Base contains water supply and waste tank. Has two large carrying rings on each side.

History of Object

Spittoon was used in the Department of Dental Prosthetics at the Australian College of Dentistry, Spring Street until 1963 as a chair side spittoon. The tumbler was filled by the nurse and the container was filled and emptied twice a day. A filthy machine. Not as sanitary as old 'vases' or spittoons which were emptied after each patient.

Materials and Finishes

Nickel plated spun copper.

References

Clinical / Equipment / Orthodontic

Brief Description

Cataphoretic apparatus consisting of the following instruments; milliamp, meter, binding posts, switches, double pole reversing switch mounted on ebonite board in battery box. Requires large 20 x 60 cm, 1.5 volt dry cells.

History of Object

Obtained from the Australian College of Dentistry, 1963. This is an early locally made instrument and is quite elegant in function and design. It may have been used to treat the first and only patient entered in the case book of the Melbourne Dental Hospital, 1903

Materials and Finishes

References

Clinical / Historical / Electrical / Research

Brief Description

Small air compressor of approximately 18 ml. capacity, with tap to either 'suck' or 'blow'. Has a universal series motor, belt (round) drive and ballast resistance foot switch. All in wooden case.

History of Object

Obtained from the Australian College of Dentistry with little or no real use in the clinic. Mainly kept for novelty value. Probably dates from the early 1900s.

Materials and Finishes

References

Clinical / Dental Prosthetic / Conservative Dentistry

Brief Description

Spare plastics (black) cone for early model X-ray machine.

History of Object

Ebonite (?)

Materials and Finishes

References

Clinical / X-ray (dark room)

Brief Description

A typical dental engine with arm, cord drive and Doriot handpiece mounted on a pillar stand on three castors. The foot control is separate. Compare this engine with earlier similar models with the motor mounted on the base and a long cord drive.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. Alan Parker, Orthodondist.

Materials and Finishes

References

Surgery / Oral Surgery / Dental Prosthetics / Conservative Dentistry

Brief Description

Typical all cord dental engine with Doriot handpiece. The machine was originally given to the University of Melbourne Archives. The handpiece came from the Dental Museum.

History of Object

Materials and Finishes

References

See Ash 1899, E 8.
Clinical / Conservative Dentistry / Dental Prosthetics

Brief Description

Aluminium occlusal plate, 1.5 millimeters thick and with a radius of 4.5 inches.

History of Object

The plate was made by a student as an exercise using a die and counter professionally made and supplied by the Department. The plate was used to set teeth in wax to standard curves etc. The use of this guide was based on studies of dry material and the mistaken concept that man chewed or ground his food like and ox.

Materials and Finishes

Aluminium.

References

Laboratory / Dental Prosthetics

Brief Description

Control board or panel with switches, variable resistors and pressure gauges. Sometimes the control board was known as a distributor board and was the precursor to the dental unit.

History of Object

Donated by private practitioner Dr. Frank Johnston.

Materials and Finishes

References

See Ash catalogue, 1908.
Conservative Dentistry / Restorative Dentistry

Brief Description

Typical early model furnace with exposed electrical fittings and separate pyrometer.

History of Object

Donated by Dr. Tony Woodhouse. This furnace was one of the earliest used in Melbourne for porcelain work.

Materials and Finishes

References

For related objects see Dental Museum Collection items 448 and 822.
Conservative Dentistry / Dental Prosthetics / Mechanical Dentistry

Brief Description

Typical S. S. White chair, 1925. Complete on display stand with unit no. 7.

History of Object

Chair was a gift from Southern Dental Industries who no longer required it as space was at a premium in their show rooms.

Materials and Finishes

References

See photo with Museum Catalogue Worksheet.
Equipment / Clinical