Antique Deco Vintage Ritter Floor Mounted Drill/Water/GasTri-Dent Dental Unit

This vintage Ritter floor mounted Tri-Dent dental unit is such an amazing piece of American Industrial history.   I love art deco design as well as the jadeite green color.  As you can see in the photos it does need some TLC; but it has been stored in a shed and the metal is in excellent condition.  A great conversation piece for display in a dental or orthodontist office. 

I have found some historical information on the Ritter Company and the evolution of this dental unit as well as an advertising photo very similar to this particular unit.

The Tri-Dent Models B and C were floor mounted dental units introduced in the 1920s. The Tri-Dent Model B with its swinging type cuspidor,light and engine lathe were all mounted on a single pedestal. The Model C Tri-Dent had it's cuspidor mounted on a separate pedestal.

 The Model E Unit with its patented warm water and warm air could deliver both directly to the patient. It was also equipped with a low voltage diagnostic instrument which, until that time, had been a separate piece of equipment.

The Model E Unit came out in the 1930s and was an updated version of the Model B, likewise the Model F Unit was an updated Model C. With these dental units the dentists had within his reach all the essentials: air, gas,water and electricity. The air and water appliances were under finger-tip control. The electrically operated instruments were shut off automatically when they were returned to their respective holders. This grouping of operating essentials in a single unit was pioneered by the Ritter Dental Company.