A rather honest Schick advertisement

Sometimes honesty is the best policy. Even, and this might be a shock to any marketers out there, in advertisements. Case in point; this 1968 Schick advertisement for a free razor. It’s interesting not just because of its honestly, but also because it gives a little insight into what you had to pay for shaving gear back in the day.

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Bowlin’s shaving kit patent

Last week I made some lighthearted fun out of a shave kit that looked like a fountain pen. Today I’ll show of another fountain pen lookalike; Pete Bowlin’s shaving kit. Pete filed his patent in ’47, and while he failed to include a shaving brush he did find room to make his invention a hoe style single edge safety razor.

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Shave of the day 14th March 2022

Razor: GEM 1912

Blade: GEM Single Edge Stainless

Brush: Artesania Romera Manchurian Badger, imitation horn

Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream

Lather: Pereira Shavery Orange Blossom w/ activated charcoal

Aftershave: Myrsol Aqua De Limón

Additional Care: Alum Block & Gentlemen of Sweden Original Beard Oil

Pen style shavette

Is your Gillette Khaki Kit just too big and bulky for your pocket? Fear not, because just over a hundred year ago Val F Franck1 applied for and was granted a patent. A patent for a pen style shavette – one you can use for shaving anywhere. Beyond the novelty factor, it would certainly make it easier to travel light.

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Army and Navy pillow kit

Over the years, there have been several names used for military shave sets. This holds true for both standard issue sets and for kits a soldier1 could buy himself. From the Great War we have names like the Khaki Kit in several variations, the Service Kit, the Khaki Service Outfit, and the Comfy Kit. From the Great War part II, we have the Buddy Kit. Even so, I had never heard the term “Army and Navy Pillow Kit” being used before I saw Rebecca Harris’ patent filed in late 1917.

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