DENTAL INSTRUMENTATION
The History of Articulators: Early Attempts
to Reproduce Mandibular Movement
Edgar N. Starcke, DDS
I N 1840, THE FIRST US patents for dental articu-
lators were issued to 2 Philadelphia, PA dentists:
James Cameron, on April 30, and Daniel T. Evens,*
on August 28. The Cameron Articulator, primarily a
hinge-type device, is notable both because it was the
first articulator to be patented and because of its
unusual pole stand design. The Evens Articulator,
however, represented an important advancement in
concept.
The Evens Articulator
(‘‘Dentist’s Guide’’)
The first recorded attempt to imitate mandibular
movement, the Daniel T. Evens articulator patent
(Fig 1), showed that Evens (and likely other dentists
of his day) recognized the forward and lateral move-
ments of the mandible. Evens named his ‘‘improved
apparatus’’ the ‘‘Dentist’s Guide,’’ although it is not
clear to what improvements he referred. He believed
that his articulator simulated the motion of the
human mandible and, as he expressed in his patent
specifications, ‘‘. . . a provision is made for adjusting
the lower plate allowing a motion at the joints similar
to that which is admitted by the condyloid processes
of the living subject.’’1 This and similar statements in
*In the literature, Evens’ name has often been
incorrectly spelled as ‘‘Evans.’’ These occurrences were
likely a result of the uncommon spelling of his name
and because of name similarities with at least 2 other
early articulator inventors.
Correspondence to: Edgar N. Starcke, DDS, Clinical Professor, Depart-
ment of Prosthodontics, The University of Texas Houston Health Science
Center Dental Branch, 6516 John Freeman Avenue, P.O. Box 20068,
Houston, TX 77225. E-mail: estarcke@mail.db.uth.tmc.edu
Copyright r 2000 by The American College of Prosthodontists
1059-941X/00/0901-0010$5.00/0
doi: 10.1053/jd.2000.6544
Journal of Prosthodontics, Vol 9, No 1 (March), 2000: pp 51-56
the patent letter suggest that Evens, like his contem-
poraries, may have understood little of the fundamen-
tal nature about mandibular movement beyond that
of the hinge motion.
Evens described movement of the mandibular
assembly (Fig 1A) as guided by the action of the joint
controls in the following manner: Bar (K), ‘‘. . . upon
the ends of which are joint pins (H, H) extend
through the horizontal slots (a, a) and attach in fixed
positions to (ramus) plates (I, I), that are part of
(mandible) plate (G)’’ (Fig 1B). ‘‘Bar (K) has some
lateral play upon the adjusting screw (L),’’ allowing
both protrusive and lateral movement.1 Realistically,
it seems more plausible that the mandibular assem-
bly pivoted at the center of the bar (at adjusting
screw L) rather than near the horizontal slots, as
Evens seemed to suggest. Even with thumbscrews
(b, b) to hold the bar in its ‘‘proper position,’’ it would
have required a diligent effort to avoid rotation
around adjusting screw L when hand-manipulating
the instrument into a lateral position.
Daniel Evens was also the second articulator
inventor to record the misconception that, for an
articulator to accurately imitate human jaw move-
ments, only the lower member should move.† Over
the years, this error has been repeated in later
articulators and has generally complicated the func-
tional designs. Two examples of such articulators are
John W. Moffitt’s, patented in 1890 (Fig 2), and B. L.
Keeney’s, patented in 1935 (Fig 3).
What Became of the Evens
Articulator?
Although the Evens articulator represented an impor-
tant advance, it was met with little appreciation, and
†James Cameron mentioned this feature, but Evens
placed greater emphasis on its importance.
51
52

Figure 1. The Daniel T. Evens articulator, 1840. (A) A

view of the fixed maxillary member (plate F) attached to
back plate E, and the movable mandibular assembly (plate
G, I, I). The joint apparatus consists of joint pins (H, H),
and a fixed horizontal path (slot a, a). There is also a
‘‘vertical stop’’ (tempering screw K), and a closing mecha-
nism (band spring j). (B) The top view of the housing
(plates E, E) for the joint controls consisting of Bar (K),
joint pins (H, H), adjusting screw (L), and thumbscrew (b).
Note: Although plates (E, E), joint pins (H, H), and
thumbscrews (b, b) are described in the original patent as
components of this drawing, their positions are not clearly
identified. Joint pins and letters (H, H), letters (E, E), and
thumbscrews and letters (b, b) have been added for
clarification.

Figure 2. John W. Moffitt’s Articulator, 1890. An early

example of an articulator designed with a movable lower
member. According to the 1890 Wilmington Dental Manu-
facturing Co Catalogue,5 to ensure that the articulator
would have ‘‘movements corresponding to those of the
natural jaws’’ (p 294), ie, hinge freely, it was necessary to
lean the instrument back on posterior support rod a. (A) is
from the 1890 Wilmington Dental Manufacturing Co
Catalogue, p 294. (B) and (C) are from the original patent
letter.
 53

Figure 3. B. L. Keeney’s
‘‘Denture Articulator,’’ 1935.
This 1930’s articulator typifies
some of the problems that
haunt the functional designs
of articulators having a mov-
able lower member. In addi-
tion to the condylar mecha-
nism, a maxillary hinge is
required for working access to
the mounted casts. In this case,
the mandibular member is
supported and retained in the
closed position by only several
springs.

consequently, disappeared early from the scene. In
fact, so little information had been available on the
Evens that for many years it was believed that the
original US patent letter might be the only evidence
that it ever existed.2 However, it is now apparent that
dental scholars of the day appreciated its merit, and,
that for a period of time, it was manufactured and
sold in the Philadelphia area. So, why was the Evens
articulator unsuccessful? It is assumed that although
most dentists of the 1840s failed to understand its
‘‘pioneering’’ feature, the Evens was unsuccessful
simply because it was inconvenient and difficult to
use (Fig 4), and not because it was ‘‘ahead of its
time.’’ In fact, as an examination of Paul B. God-
dard’s 1844 text3 suggests, it may never have reached
the dental marketplace in its original patented
form.
A drawing that appears in Paul B. Goddard’s 1844
book (Fig 5) may be the earliest illustration of an
articulator in the literature. The drawing, by illustra-
tor W. E. Smith, is of an Evens articulator that had
been loaned to Goddard by Horatio G. Kern, a
prominent manufacturer of dental instruments in
Philadelphia. By 1844, after obtaining the patent
54
rights, Kern had put it on the market.3 Goddard
emphasized that the illustrations in his book were
accurate representations of the objects depicted.3 If
this is true, it is apparent that the Evens articulator
no longer had the precedent-setting joint mechanism
(horizontal slot). However, the device still retained
its basic, yet least appealing design element, the
movable lower member. A ‘‘new’’ feature (holes, d)
had been added to allow for altering ramus plate
length (c) to satisfy individual vertical space require-
ments.
It is tempting to speculate that Kern was pres-
sured to adopt the simple hinge and the vertical
adjustment feature as design changes in response to
dentists’ market demands. This may or may not be
so; nevertheless, as a result of these changes in
design, the Evens articulator had little or no influ-
ence on the advancement of knowledge in the field of
mandibular movement. It would be W. G. A. Bonwill
who, in 1864, inspired other investigations into this
field when he introduced to the profession his articu-
lator and his theories on articulation and ‘‘anatomic’’
(balanced) occlusion.4
‘‘Fixed Condylar Guide’’ Articulators
and the Next Advancement
The original Evens Articulator, with the horizontal
condylar path feature, can be classified generally as a
‘‘Fixed Condylar Guide’’ instrument, and is the
earliest of this type. Two other early patented ex-
amples were the Starr (1868; Fig 6), and the Antes-
Lewis (1895, 1900; Fig 7). Of course, the most
well-known articulator in this category was the Bon-
Figure 4. For the Evens ar-
ticulator to be handled in the
laboratory, it was necessary
for the device to be either:
(A) mounted on the side of
the work bench, in which case
the operator’s view of the up-
per working surface was ob-
scured; or (B) placed on its
back, requiring both of the
operator’s hands to work
against the force of the band
spring designed to keep the
lower plate in the closed
position. (Modified and re-
printed with permission.6)
will (1858; Fig 8). All of these articulators received
some acceptance by the profession. Indeed, the Bon-
will was quite popular for many years. But none
represented a further innovation in principle. It was
not until almost 50 years after the Evens was pat-
ented that Richmond S. Hayes would incorporate the
next important advancement into an articulator, the
Figure 5. The Evens Articulator, 1844. Note that by this
time the horizontal slot, (posterior) plate E and the center
adjusting screw are no longer present (see Fig 1). Also, a
‘‘new’’ feature has been added: holes (d) were intended
‘‘. . . to alter the ramus length to correspond to a measure-
ment taken from the patient.’’3 (Reprinted from God-
dard.3)
 55

Figure 6. The E. T. Starr

Articulator, 1868. This is one
of 6 known articulators (in-
cluding 2 ‘‘plaster’’ types) pat-
ented between 1840 and 1870.
The advertisement claims the
‘‘lower plate is modeled from
the natural jaw,’’ and ‘‘. . . a
backward, forward, and lat-
eral motion is provided for,
corresponding with the move-
ments of the natural jaw.’’ The
lower plate is held in position
by elastic bands. (Reprinted
from the S. S. White Dental
Catalogue.7)

Figure 7. The Antes-Lewis

Articulator, 1895, 1900. This
was actually the product of a
joint venture and included the
design features of 2 instru-
ments. The advertisement
claimed that ‘‘. . . slots in the
yoke allow an endwise, or for-
ward and back movement of
the upper plate on a horizon-
tal plane.’’ The upper plate is
held in position by the en-
cased central spring at the
end of the ‘‘yoke.’’ (Reprinted
from Dale.8)
56
Figure 8. The Bonwill Articulator, 1858. This is an often-
copied early drawing of the Bonwill. (Reprinted from
Walker.9)
downward and forward condylar path, when he was
issued a patent for his ‘‘fixed condylar guide’’ instru-
ment in 1889 (more of the history of articulators in
the next issue of the Journal of Prosthodontics).
References
1. Evens DT: Dental Articulator. Patent No. 1,743. August 28,
1840
2. Hillyer E: The development of the anatomical articulator. Dent
Cosmos 1913;55:989-1005
3. Goddard PB (ed): The Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of
the Human Teeth (ed 1). Philadelphia, PA, Carey & Hart,
1844, pp 22, 226
4. Bonwill WGA: Articulation and articulators. Trans Am Dent
Assoc 1864; July 26:76-79
5. 1890 Wilmington Dental Manufacturing Co Catalogue. Phila-
delphia, PA, Wilmington Dental Manufacturing Co, 1890, p
294
6. House JE: The design and use of dental articulators in the
United States from 1840-1970. Masters thesis, Indiana Univer-
sity School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, 1970, p 48
7. S. S. White Dental Catalogue. Philadelphia, PA, Samuel S.
White, 1877, p 319
8. Dale JA (ed): Morrison Brothers Dental Catalogue (ed 3).
Nashville, TN, Morrison Bros., 1904, p 755
9. Walker WE: The facial line and angles in prosthetic dentistry.
Dent Cosmos 1897;39:789-800