The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-02-23

NIL Of the electorical. compressed-air,
water and gas appliances used by the
dentist in ordinary operations He
began in a factory on the river flats
below the Plat street bridge the
manufacture Of very high grade par.
lor furniture.
The possibilities in the manufac-
ture Of dental chairs came to him
when he made n surgical operating
chair for a local firm. the planning
and construction Of this chair being
largely in the nature Of an expert
ment In 1887. assisted by the J.
=. Graham Woodworking Company,
this experimental work was carried
n little further and fifty Of this
original chair were manufactured.
In 1855, the original model was i'm
proved by the addition Of a raising
and lowering device similar to tina,
used on piano stools.
Product Becomes Standard
The manufacture OF the chair EN-.
ploying this crude method Of raising
and lowering was shortly diseon.
tinued and succeeded by the eele-
brated Columbia. or the chair known
rs the jaek-knife pattern. This was
the first chair in which was developed
the hydraulic pump. The first one
was shipped December 10. 1892
Three Of these chairs-one upholster.
ed in a handsome brocade finished in
ebony with gold-plated trimmings
another in white enamel with decor.
atoms Of hand-painted flowers. en-.
broidered in silk brocade and having
silver trimmings; the third Of stan.
dard finish for demonstration pur.
poses-were exhibited at and won the
highest award at the Worlds Colum.
bian Exhibition.
In the fall Of 1898. also at this ex.
position the company introduced an
improved model which aroused the
entire dental world. II embodied
entirely new features which revolu.
tionized the dental-ehair industry and
from this time the success Of the
Ritter Dental Manufacturing Com
pany as originators and manufac-
turers Of dental chairs was assured
and It's product became the standard
Of the world.
During the internal OF several
years when chairs Of the earlier
models were being perfected. it was
necessary TO meet heavy expenses in
volved in experimenting and endeav-
oring TO bring the manufacturing Of
dental chairs TO a firm basis. Pat
tern after pattern was discarded and
new ones made and manufacturing
difficulties which most men would
have considered one by one.
Wide Variety Of Products.
Many thousands Of the New Col
umbia chairs were manufactured.
Their workmanship was so excellent
that many Of these chairs are still
giving as good service as when pur-
chased and many dentists refuse to
substitute more modern chair.
Continual improvements were made
by the Ritter company and finally
came the model which is now known
as the Ritter chair and is a eombina-
tion Of all Of the good points Of pre-
eeding models with none Of their
Objectionable features. This chair
is most reflective Of the sturdiness
Of character and perseverance, Of
purpose Of a great pioneer in the
manufacture Of dental equipment.
Shortly after the inception Of his
new business, Mr.. Ritter built and
occupied another factory which now
forms a part Of the plant Of the
Bausch 4 Lomb Optical Company.
Manufacturing facilities Of the COM
pany were continuously outgrown
and in 1908 the splendid new fac
tory was erected in West avenue.
When electricity came into prac-
teal use. dentists began experiment
ing with 1t for their work. Fore
seeing its possibilities. the Ritter COM
pany perfected dental engine and
dental lathe Of the highest type. II
was the first to make equipment for
dental use Of the alternating cur
rent and its apparatus jumped into
instant popularity. gaining a world
supremacy then which has been held
continuously since. The Ritter manu-
faeturers now Comprise complete
switching boards or dental unit sys-
TENS and their equipment, dental en-
gines, labratory lathes, air compress
ors. hot-water heaters, eauteriIers,
hot-air syringes, antrum lamps. root
canal dryers and a new and improv-
ed type Of X-ray machine. In all.
there are more than seventy uses for
the various devices II turns out.