Diagnostic Artifacts - Small Finds

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18AN39 Saunders Point Mid-18th-century cellar

This 18th-century double-ended toothbrush has 19 drilled holes on one end and 5 on the opposite end. Examining the size of the bristle holes at either end suggests that the bristles faced in opposite directions. Bristles are still evident in some of the holes and fine copper wire used to attach bristles seen crossing back of brush and in a loop inside one of the holes, holding bristles in place. Green staining from the copper wire is apparent on both the front and back sides of the rounded stock. It is possible that this brush was used for cleaning fingernails, rather than as a toothbrush.
18AP52 Gott’s Court African American neighborhood, late 19th century

Stamped, J. Newton Gilbert O Annapolis MD indeterminate letters in circle. J. Gilbert Newton operated a pharmacy in Annapolis beginning in 1901 (Drug Trade Weekly, Volume 3) and continuing at least through 1929, when he is listed in the November 26, 1929 edition of The Capital newspaper as being a druggist in Annapolis.	This toothbrush was discovered in a backhoe test trench, so exact context not available.

18BA100 Howard McHenry Mill

Lot 395. Stamped “Geo. E. Seal Baltimore; O/68/M”. Baltimore business directories show Seal was in business as a druggist in Baltimore between 1883 and 1906.	Lot 395. This toothbrush was found in the same context as the “George Seal, Baltimore” toothbrush. Baltimore business directories show Seal was in business as a druggist in Baltimore between 1883 and 1906.	Baltimore business directories show Thomas & Thompson as a Baltimore drugstore in business by 1874 until at least World War II. The proprietors were John Benjamin Thomas and Albert Thompson. Lot 401.002

18BA332 Dolfield Tenant House Early to mid-20th century African-American tenant house	18BA370 Todd’s Inheritance Standing early 19th-century house

Lot 8. Recovered from early 20th-century yard midden.	Top and side views of handle, showing curvature. Recovered from a shovel test through a mid- to late 19th-century midden along the west side of the house.

18BC27 Federal Reserve

Feature 17 – Brick-lined privy
(c. 1840-1870)

----------- Feature 28 – Brick-lined privy (mid-19th century) -----------

Oval handle with squared end. Lot 85

Oval flattening to a semicircular handle with squared end. Lot 28A577

Oval handle with square end. Lot 291

------------------------------------------- Feature 30 Privy (c. 1850-1870) -------------------------------------

Virginia Type. Lot 360

Oval handle with square end. Lot 336

Lot 324

---------------------------------- Feature 36 – Well re-used as privy (1880s-1890s) ---------------------------------


Oval handle with rounded end. Lot 36	Lot 278 - Close-up of stock end shows trepanned tunnels that ran the length of the stock. These holes were plugged with wax or cement; in this case the plugs appear to have fallen out. Guideline channels for drilling the bristle holes are also visible along the rows.

18BC38 Clagett’s Brewery

Bone handled toothbrush with gradual neck. Rounded square stock, handle has flat oval cross section; rounded base, with wire drawn bristle attachment. 1G.448.12	Bone handled toothbrush with gradual neck. Some of the bristles are still present in the stock. 175 mm length. Slightly convex cranking, wire drawn bristle attachment, handle has a square base with oval cross section. 1D.859.1

Bone handled toothbrush with turned handle. 140 mm in length. Flat cranking with wire drawn bristle attachement. Stick shaped handle with rounded cross section. 1G2.458.53	Bone handled toothbrush with turned handle. Flat cranking with probable wire drawn bristle attachement. Stick shaped handle with rounded cross section. 1G2.648; 1G2.426.58
18BC51 Levering Coffee House	American Can Company - 18BC56 From fill deposited circa 1880-1890 at Harford Run

LC872 - Note drilled holes at varying distances from one another and the two slightly overlapping holes at the handle end of the stock, suggesting the holes were made with a bow drill prior to c. 1869-1874 (Mattick 2010:10,59).	Bone oval handle toothbrush with rounded end from Lot 3-135.
18BC62 Harrison�s at Pier 5

Bone handled toothbrush. Rounded, square shape, wire drawn brush. 1G.448.12
18BC66 Shot Tower Metro Station

Bone handled toothbrush with gradual/abrupt neck.Trepanned brushes. Handle has hexagonal cross section; rounded base.	Bone handled toothbrush with indeterminate bristle attachment. Handle has hexagonal cross section; rounded base.
18BC79 Ruth Saloon

Bone handled toothbrush stamped “Warranted” on the reverse. Elongated hexagonal handle. Privy 5, filled between 1829-1837.
18BC92 Pratt II Probably associated with residence of Dr. and Mrs. Alexis B. McGlannon (1918-1943

Stock end shows trepanned tunnels that ran the length of the stock. These holes were plugged with wax or cement; in this case some of the plugs are still intact. Guideline channels for drilling the bristle holes are also visible along some of the rows. Trench 1-A, Level 3. Lot 11.	Bone handle with teardrop shape toothbrush with wire drawn attachment and copper alloy staining on back. Stamped on front: “England” near stock and “Hochschild Kohn & Co. Baltimore” and “Drawn Wire/Sterling/Silver Wire” on handle.

18BC139 Bull's Head Tavern Feature 9 Privy (first half 19th century)

Flat oval handle. Detail of back of stock, showing graved channels used for the wire drawn bristle attachment. Lot 339	Rectangular handle with flared and squared-off end. Lot 338
18BC132 Mechanic’s Court	18CH805 Fendall Surface Find

Hexagonal handle with rounded end. Lot 220 Detail of broken side of stock showing drilled bristle holes as they intersect with trepanned tunnel.	Oval handle with pointed end. Associated with 19th-century Charleston House. Private collection.
18MO609 Jackson Homestead (1870-1915)

Oval handle with beveled square end - Lot 344. Guidelines used to help position bristle holes are visible on the stock of this brush running along the rows.	Oval handle with rounded end - Lot 300.
18PR175 Addison Plantation	18PR692 Salubria Feature 26 – 20th-century pipe trench

Oval handle with rounded end - Lot 10282.	Wire drawn bristles.
18QU124 Queenstown Courthouse	Gravelly Hills Standing structure built c. 1820 in Chaptico, Maryland

3 of the 4 trepanning holes are still plugged with pinkish wax - Lot 42,	Circular handle with stick end. This toothbrush is privately owned; it was discovered during gardening on the property.
Public Hospital 1885 context	Thomas Jefferson Toothbrush Brush-Everard House 19th-century yard fill

This toothbrush was discovered in the cellar of a building at a mental hospital that was destroyed by fire in 1885.	Courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Catalog # 00058-29FB
Ferry Farm 44ST174 Antebellum plowzone context
Photos by Laura Galke and courtesy of The George Washington Foundation.

Teardrop shaped handle and rounded stock. Wire drawn with three rows of bristles in uneven rows, suggesting the holes were drilled with a bow drill. This brush may have been used for fingernails, rather than for cleaning teeth.	Guidelines for drilling present on top example with tapered head and 5 rows of holes-Trepanned bristle attachment; (Middle) Elliptical head with 5 rows of holes-Trepanned, probably guidelines visible; (Bottom) Elliptical head with 4 rows of holes, trepanned bristle attachment.
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