is this a toothbrush?

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Hi,

This is a find from a field in Poperinge.
I suspect it's a toothbrush handle.
I've seen them make WW1 toothbrushes out of ox bones and this seems to be the case here. There is an inscription on both sides. One side is:
Bidw(.....?)
1917
The other side is: (...?)W with the British arrow behind it.

Anyone have an idea what model it would be?

Arne

[RaySearching]

 Photos may help the forum pals to identify it

 

Ray

[Arne Vandendriessche]

My apologies,

I forgot the pictures.
You can see them here:

Arne

 

[Dave66]

Looks like it Arne, there’s a 1918 dated one here, and the W/|\D stamp looks fine…..https://www.wdmilitaria.co.uk/shop.php?q=Toothbrush

ive seen others with the WD stamp on a while ago but haven’t got clue where!

Dave.

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Thanks,

 

Arne

[Dave66]

Possible manufacturer could be Bidwell, bidwell & Co…..https://axminsterheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Brush-making-in-Axminster.pdf

[Bob Davies]

1 hour ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

My apologies,

I forgot the pictures.
You can see them here:

Arne

Thank you for sharing this with us Arne. I just came up with the Name 'Bidwell' a few moments after Dave66. Regards, Bob. A brief history of dentistry in the army is here; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8033272/

Edited 17 August , 2022 by Bob Davies

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Thanks for the information.

 

Arne