Carved Baleen lice comb from logging camp?

[highnam]

I found this lice comb in a 1912 Washington State logging camp. I found a few combs but this one is special. I believe it is Baleen (Carved whale jaw plate) that is engraved with the word "Wizard" and a "no.330" in the lower right. The engraved lettering was once painted with gold leaf. The tines are so tight I doubt it could have been poured in a mold, also the tines bend over with no problem

With all this info to get from a comb, I cannot find a thing. I have had only one suggestion worth noting...."Wizard" is a English word and perhaps this comb was U.K. Millitary issue with the officers #330.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[mcl]

I see you have been looking for this for a while. Have you looked into the following? The Wizard sheep shearing machine apparently had a variety of combs and cutting heads that could be purchased.

 

[tamrock]

I'm seeing a comb made of gutta percha.
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...buttons-buckle-gutta-percha-comb-sunburn.html

 

[diggummup]

Wizard was a popular name for many things back during the industrial revolution, from paint to lanterns to a menagerie of electrical devices. I don't think there is any doubt as to it being a lice comb. The problem I see is finding another Lice comb by the same manufacturer and identifying the material it was made from. It could be vulcanized rubber. That was a pretty popular material around the turn of the century. The sheep shearing blades/combs would have been metal in order to resharpen them, so ixnay to that.

Here is a wooden one found in Holland by a member here on Tnet- http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/m...tick-1650-more-data-received.html#post1087309

Here is an ivory one recovered from Gettysburg- https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/gettex/exb/existing_DaytoDay/GETT42470.html

This one was recovered from Vicksburg, it's rubber-

More ancient examples dating from 2nd century to the 8th century, plus a modern one- https://888liceaway.wordpress.com/tag/lice-comb/

This one was found in an Egyptian tomb!

 

[nhbenz]

Yes, I agree with vulcanized rubber, as it's pretty much identical to the Goodyear example above, which can be found with a patent of May 6, 1851. Made in conjunction with the India Rubber Company.

 

[highnam]

Very interesting...I can see how volcanized rubber could be.
So would the rubber be carved? I haven't seen many hard rubber combs engraved and painted with gold leaf. Also it's hard to see because the gold leaf has worn off but the "W" in "Wizard" has a "whale tail" like split in the engraving... Thanks for your input and effort. Much appreciated.

 

[highnam]

One last suggestion to throw out here...
Freemason issued comb? Lodge No. 303
”Wizard” is Grand Wizard?

 

[bradyboy]

cotton, wool carding tool?