While the anthrax scare and fear of germs gave rise to several disposable shaving brushes and lathering devices, the scary germs and bacteria could also be found on the soap and in the cup. While soap could be contained in the brush, or made in shave sized pieces, the cup was an issue. A barber could either opt for individual cups for his regular customers, or use a disposable shaving cup.
Continue readingFear, uncertainly and doubt more or less killed of the horse hair shaving brush in the 1920’s. FUD about anthrax from shaving brushes, to be specific. I’ve mentioned the subject before, but it has been a while. So lets revisit the subject with a 103 years old public health report titled – unsurprisingly – “Anthrax from shaving brushes”.
Continue readingA slightly newer advertisement than I’ve brought up lately, Gillette released this at about the same I was born. There is a couple of interesting points to make when it comes to the ad and what it shows.
Continue reading…perfect for Father’s Day.
Continue reading“Hey Jim, you tried the new Gillette stainless blades?”
Keeps on softening, and softening, and softening…
Continue readingAn advertisement from the November 26, 1910 issue of The Saturday Evening Post (Palm Coast, Florida, USA), showing the “Gillette Slide”.
Continue readingRaymond H Wilhelm wasn’t the first nor the last man who got a bright idea while shaving. He wasn’t even the first or last to get the idea to put something bright on his razor. Before I’ve mentioned patents from Lester E Norquist1 and F Pollifrone,2 as well as an aftermarket brightness enhancer.
The idea seems bright enough; the place you’ll need the most light where shaving is just where your hand and razor will shade for the light. The solution – the light bulb idea, if you will – is to place the light in or on the razor. And that is what Raymond H Wilhelm did in his patent application one hundred years ago.
Continue readingWe are all familiar with the Khaki Kit – made in huge numbers, handed out to doughboys so they wouldn’t die horrible in the trenches, reproduced and recreated today… but what if I told you there were non-Gillette Khaki Kits supplied by the US Govn’t to the US Army and Navy?
Continue readingof toil and sin
your head grows bald
but not your chin
Burma Shave, 1955 jingle.