tools of a hobby-ist dentist
"My dad’s dad was a "hobby-ist" dentist in the early 1900’s. That's right, it wasn't his actual vocation. He was so interested in learning about dentistry he even made some of the tools of the trade in his work shop. Other pieces he got in exchange for doing work on cars that belonged to "real" dentists, the rest he purchased."
So begins the story of how the man I never knew performed dentistry on my dad, his three brothers and his three sisters in the early 1900's. From the early years of my childhood I was captivated by the mysterious oak case that had the most distinctive, yet unusual smell and its contents. I would ask my dad again and again to tell me about how the foot-pedal drill was used and what it felt like. I spent countless hours exploring the case and trying to get that pedal drill going...
Time hasn't changed the case or its contents, other than some minor deterioration of the tools and potions inside. As I'm now its keeper, I still get to open and explore it. The years of my curiosity now culminating in a photo project which includes a limited-edition book and a selection of limited-edition photographic prints and small-scale custom book.
So begins the story of how the man I never knew performed dentistry on my dad, his three brothers and his three sisters in the early 1900's. From the early years of my childhood I was captivated by the mysterious oak case that had the most distinctive, yet unusual smell and its contents. I would ask my dad again and again to tell me about how the foot-pedal drill was used and what it felt like. I spent countless hours exploring the case and trying to get that pedal drill going...
Time hasn't changed the case or its contents, other than some minor deterioration of the tools and potions inside. As I'm now its keeper, I still get to open and explore it. The years of my curiosity now culminating in a photo project which includes a limited-edition book and a selection of limited-edition photographic prints and small-scale custom book.
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