The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-11-01
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Wednesday, Nov. /, 1882.
~ TEETH FOR THE WORLD.
Phi:aaeIphia Filling G25, 900 Mouths Every
Year.


Philadelphia leads the country in many
lines of manufacture, but in the lines of arti-
fetal teeth and dental appliances she leads
the world. In London and Paris and Berlin,
Phiiadelphia's Instruments sell for nearly
twice the price that similar instruments
made in Europe sell for Twelve and a half
million artificial teeth ara made every year
in this city. Allowing twenty teeth to every
person supplied, Philadelphia every year fills
the faouths of 625, 900 persons AS Phila-
delphia has population only 200, 900 in ex-
cess of this number, it should be understood
that nearly all these artificial teeth go out
side Philadelphia chews with its natural
grinders. Five tons of tooth powder are
sent out annually In the dental industry
700 hands are employed
Before the invention of artificial teeth Il
was customary to supply the loss of teeth by
fixing the crown of a sound tooth on the root
remaining, or to transplant an entire tooth
from one mouth to another, dentists paying
as high as two guineas each for them. Then
for awhile the teeth of cattle were used.
Next came hippopotamus ivory, which was
carved to suitable shapes.
Cheaper teeth were made from elephant
ivory and bone, but none OF these were
satisfactory. and something better wss
wanted.
In 1917 Dr. A. A. Phantom came to Phila-
delphia from Paris, bringing with him some
rudely-made porcelain teeth. He made
set of teeth for Charles Wilson Peale which
lid not suit Mr.. Peale, and set him to
thinking il he could do better. He began to
experiment, and, assisted by Mr. Abram
Miller, potter was successful beyond his
expectations He was the first to insert
platinum wire in teeth before baking, which
was great step forward.
Tho next experimenter was Samuel w.
Stockton, in 1926. He set out with a differ
snt end in view-he aimed to supply the
ientists, and giving his whole attention to
this, Cucceeded in few years in bnilding up
the largest business, at that time, in bis line
in thig country, his annual product being
about 600, 900 teeth In 1910 he made single
and block teeth, with colored gums prob
ably the first made in this country His
teeth were not prepared according to an un-
varying formula, and consequently lacked
the uniformity that is now considered indis-
pensa5le.
DIR. Elias Wildman was more successful,
and about 1887 he produced very hfe-like
effects that were remarkably uniform.
But during these years youth was grow
ing up in Stoekton's factory who was des-
tined, or rather who was determined that he
would advance TO the trout rank in his pro-
fession. His name was Samuel Stockton
White. He was Stoektons nephew and
apprentice, and in 1874, when in his twen-
ty-second year, he began TO hoe his own
row" in dwelling at Seventh and Race
streets.
In the garnet be made teeth. and in anoth-
er room he practieed dentistry. Here was
born the establishment which was to be the
largest of its hind in the world. In 1868 he
erected the splendid building at the SOUTH
east corner Of Twelfth and Chestnut streets
To his intelligen. and steadily persistent Of.
forts are die in very large degree the high
esteem in which Philadelphia made teeth
aud instruments are held in every portion Of
the globe. No complaint OF defective goods
was passed unnoticed Having at one time
some complaint of forceps breaking, he or.
dered rit I'd reinspeotion of all on hand,
which resulted in the condemnation of more
than $4,000 worth Of forceps, all of which
were thrown into the scrap heap. What
was left he knew could be depended on.
The opinion Of the profession is expressed
Ia lightweight medals. from every civilized
country in the world, and growing de-
mand for tho products of the 200 hands
there employed, some OF whom have been
With then since la45.--P Ailnlr.. hia Reco,d