GLASS BOTTLE DISPENSER - This handsome glass dispenser was used to store TCP, phenol, oil of cloves, iodine and alcohol. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)

TOOTH SAMPLES - Detail from a circular shade guide of mineral teeth. Mineral teeth came in a variety of forms, sizes and colours including tube, pivot, vulcanite and flat teeth. The Claudius Ash catalogue states that mineral teeth were 'free from porosity and can be ground and polished to any extent that may be necessary to suit special cases'. The shade guide enabled the dentist to place any tooth against those in the patient's mouth and to simply write the number of the shade down for easy ordering. This shade guide includes 25 different shades. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com

CLOCKWORK DRILL - The first clockwork drill invented by George Harrington in 1864. Erado (from the Latin to scrape out),when wound, ran for two minutes but was noisy, cumbersome and heavy. It was intended to supersede the slower long handled and Archimedean drills favoured by Victorian dentists. His revised model, presented to the Odontological Society in 1871 was well received: 'The noise is not enough to produce any annoyance to patients ... we have had one of these little instruments in use for the last three weeks and find it admirable'. Unfortunately for Harrington, American James Morrison introduced his foot engine in the same year which revolutionised drilling. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)

SPITTOON - This image is part of the waste pipe attachment on the spittoon from a Ritter dental unit. This iconic piece of equipment from the 1920s grouped together for the first time all the operating essentials in a single unit. This enabled the dentist to have all the equipment he needed close to hand. The unit from the Ritter Dental Manufacturing Company of New York was a direct competitor of the equally popular British-made Rathbone Unit. Ritter units were initially more expensive but new factories in Germany soon made the units more competitively priced. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)

ASSORTED DENTAL INSTRUMENTS - A set of assorted instruments of varying dates and designs comprising mainly excavators, burs, scalers and files. Examples include early nineteenth century carved ivory and ebony handles and good quality steel finished instruments. The instruments were found in a late Victorian instrument case. The lockable mahogany instrument case has six thin drawers each filled with instruments. A variety of manufacturers are represented including Evrard, Ash and Sons, SS White and Collins and Sons. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)

ANAESTHETIC MACHINE - This detail is taken from the Clark New Model Gas apparatus manufactured by the Western Dental Manufacturing Company of Great Portland Street, London, Bristol and Cardiff. Illustrated in their 1924 catalogue, the equipment was described as the most perfect gas apparatus ever produced and eminently suitable not just for general anaesthesia but for analgesia as well. The great feature of this machine lies in the construction of the mixing chamber in which the N2O and oxygen gases come into contact no less than four times. The method of control is through a single handle on the mixing chamber. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.fi lskifoto.com)

HAND DRILL - This early 19th century hand drill was a great improvement on the crude bow drill of the previous centuries. It requires two hands to work the drill and the mechanism worked like an egg whisk. It increased rotations per minute to about 15 rpm. Although its maker is unknown, it is similar in construction and design to a drill designed by S. L. Finzi in 1848. American dentist John Lewis also patented a similar drill, the first patented hand drill in the US, in 1838. This drill had an adjustable head and was nicknamed the eggbeater drill. The Chevalier drillstock of 1850 took the design of this hand drill further by introducing a handle mid-shaft to rotate the head in both directions. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.fi lskifoto.com)

DENTAL HYGIENATOR - The dental hygienator used a Sparklets bulb (also used in soda siphons) to produce a solution containing carbon dioxide for irrigating the gums and mouth. The container was filled with hot water to counteract the drop in temperature caused by the CO2 release and a Dentaloid tablet could be added to make a hydrogen peroxide solution. The carbon dioxide in the solution was said to be both curative and prophylactic because it diffused through the mucous membrane exerting a stimulating action on the blood vessels. The hygienator was recommended for use before and after scaling and extractions, to help prevent gum recession and gingivitis and to treat tissue suffocation resulting from the wearing of dentures. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.fi lskifoto.com)

ORTHODONTIC MEASURING GAUGE - This orthodontic measuring gauge was used to take facial measurements and was made by Dentomac. The metal segments were pushed into shape by the contours of the face and then traced onto paper to demonstrate to the patient the need for treatment. The knobs at either end of the segments were screwed into place to lock them into position. The device was attached to an adjustable wall-mounted bracket. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)

GEORGE HARRINGTONS CLOCKWORK DRILL, 1864. The first clockwork drill invented by George Harrington in 1864. Erado (from the Latin to scrape out), when wound, ran for two minutes but was noisy, cumbersome and heavy. It was intended to supersede the slower long handled and Archimedean drills favoured by Victorian dentists. His revised model, presented to the Odontological Society in 1871 was well received: 'The noise is not enough to produce any annoyance to patients we have had one of these little instruments in use for the last three weeks and fi nd it admirable'. Unfortunately for Harrington, American James Morrison introduced his foot engine in the same year which revolutionised drilling. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)

IMPRESSION TRAY: FIRST APPEARED IN THE EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Perforated impression tray for use with 'Dentocoll' impression material. It has a narrow tube soldered underneath the tray to keep it warm. Made by the Amalgamated Dental Company, Walton on Thames, Surry 1928.

TOOTH KEY USED FOR EXTRACTIONS, 19TH CENTURY The tooth key appeared in the 1720s, initially closely resembling a door key. Gradually more suitable designs emerged, including this key of improved construction. It was developed by Robert Clark in 1795. He introduced a second, right-angled bend which allowed the shaft to cross the mouth to the further jaw and extract teeth in a curve movement, with less damage than its predecessors. Tooth keys were last advertised in dental catalogues in the 1870s but were still in use in the early 20th century.