Continue readingBe it known that I, FRANK G. FOWLER, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Shaving-Lather, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to make, practice, and use the same.
Frank G Fowler, in the ingress to US patent 638,804
No, not the razor I mentioned last week. Patented five years after that advertisement, this Seabrook safety razor used blades reminiscent of the Christy razor.
The patent was filed in 1905 by Henry and Percy Seabrook, and published the year after. There is not much claims made in the patent. In fact, the only claim made is how the blade is secured.
Continue readingWhen you think about the old wedge razors, adjustability is not the first thing you think about. But in 1890 Mr J E Fuller was granted a patent for a adjustable wedge razor. Additionally it had a novel way to hold the blade, one that would make taking the blade out for honing a lot less fiddly than some wedge razors out there.
Continue readingBack in 1965 Mr Bernard S Hansom filed a patent. It was not a unique event, Mr Hansom filed a dozen or so patents in the 60’s. But what caught my eye was the title; Shaving units and dispensers therefor.
And judging by the drawings it is an absolute unit too; broad and thick. But what exactly is a shaving unit, and why would it need dispensers?
Continue readingIn 1954 Allen Phillip Algier and Ford M Radenbaugh filed a patent for a disposable safety razor. And while the patent wasn’t granted until 1957, it is an interesting little razor that gives the term “lather catcher” a new face. It was meant to be complete with either soap or cream carried in the razor itself.
Continue readingBack in 1901 Mr Ernest F Ogborn patented a razor cleaner, presumably because he was tired of using razor cleaning paper. I briefly mentioned this patent when I discussed the sanitary package, but I figured a closer look could be fun.
As a reminder, a razor cleaning paper was1 a soft paper used for wiping excess lather and moisture of a straight edge razor. While nothing particularly special or difficult to get hold of, a barber would go through a lot of them during the day. This would create waste, as well as costing money. Mr Ogborn had a handy solution to both issues.
Continue readingContinuing on the theme on disposable and aseptic shaving cups, I present today the most complete kit so far: A 1915 patent for a sanitary package for shavers use. The kit has a cup. It has aseptic soap. There is a brush – not just a knot. It has a disinfectant strip. It has a towel! The package even has a razor cleaning paper‽
Continue readingIn 1913 Joseph Lupowitz and Benjiman Mackilbank1 jointly invented and patented an aseptic shaving cup, described in the patent introduction as:
…a novel form of barbers aseptic shaving cup insuring to the barbers customer, the use of an aseptic shaving cup, aseptic brush and aseptic soap.
FROM US PATENT 1084865
Compared to the disposable shaving cup I discussed a couple of days ago, this goes one better by including a brush.
Continue readingWhile 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 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.
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