FIRST TOOTHBRUSH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 120, 23 June 1941, Page 6

FIRST TOOTHBRUSH

made in Britain in 1780 SALES NOW TOTAL £400,000 Britain, where the world's first toothbrush was made in 1780, is supplying overseas countries, with more brushes than ever before. Last year she ofxported from 25i to 30 per cent more brushes, than in pre-war days, when sales totalled £400,000 to £500,000 annually, in spite* of the loss of European markets, where British brushes have a high, reputation. Among the markets where progress has been made, largely at the expense of Germany, are South Africa, India, and other Empire countries. More sales are also e,xpecte<J from Canada, Australia and South America. At least nine of Britain's brushmaking firms have been established for over one hundred and fifty years and no fewer than twenty-seven are between 100 and 250. One of them made the first toothbrush by inserting hairs from a cow hide through a fenv holes in a piece of carved bone, and to-day they are developing the use of nylon, a synthetic substitute for bristle, as a material for various kinds of toilet brushes. It has been found to have several advantages over natural bristle.