Vibra-Dent Automatic Toothbrush and Gum Massager
notes: label: Description
content: The Chase Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of Ross Products, in Manhattan, began selling Vibradent electric toothbrushes in early March 1962 and sold some 50,000 examples before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (aka the FDA) halted the business in early May. The problem involved misbranding and misinformation, as the labels did not warn of potential shock hazard. The inscriptions on the outside of this box read “Vibradent / AUTOMATIC TOOTHBRUSH AND GUM MASSAGER.” Those on the inside lid add “UND. LAB. APPROVED” and “MADE IN U.S.A.” and “BY CHASE.”
label: Description
content: Ref: “Seizure of Electric Toothbrush Ordered as a Hazard is Found,” New York Times (May 5, 1962), p. 38.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MG.274347.129
label: catalog number
content: 274347.129
label: accession number
content: 274347
label: serial number
content: 59167
objectType: label: Object Name
content: toothbrush, automatic
label: Object Name
content: gum massager
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (power unit material)
label: Physical Description
content: nylon (toothbrush attachments material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (gum massager material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (power unit material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (tube and cap material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (screw-on tubes material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (power unit material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (toothbrush attachments material)
label: Physical Description
content: cardboard (case material)
label: Physical Description
content: fabric (case material)
label: Measurements
content: overall, as stored in case: 1 5/8 in x 8 in x 5 in; 4.1275 cm x 20.32 cm x 12.7 cm