Addis

Addis was founded in 1780 by an English Entrepreneur, William Addis. In 1770, William was sent to prison for causing a riot. Whilst in prison, he decided that the current method to clean teeth at the time could be improved upon. To that end, he saved a small animal bone from a meal, drilled small holes in the bone, and obtained bristles which he then tied in tufts and passed through the holes in the bone, finally sealing with glue to create the world's first toothbrush. Addis purchased the production premises in Hertford and the factory was ready to start production in early 1920. Addis purchased Upper Bank Works (on the outskirts of Swansea), and production began in September 1965.

Quoted from addis.co.uk, in Addis's own words. We have not edited it and we do not vouch for it.