Portable dental treadle drill, in fitted case, by C. Ash and Sons, England, 1890-1915
Dental drills remove areas of tooth decay, usually before inserting a filling. This type of foot-operated pedal drill is known as a ‘treadle drill’. The treadle drill was invented by James B. Morrison (1829-1917) in 1871.
The carrying case has the letters ‘SAMC’ and the name ‘Captain Rowe’ on the lid. SAMC possibly stands for South African Medical Corps. They formed in 1913. Captain Rowe may have been a dentist serving with them during the First World War. It was made by English dental manufacturer C. Ash and Son between 1890 and 1915.