I recently bought a travel shaving brush, the bottom of the brush is stamped with…" Sterilized… NYC… USA… With a
swastika stamped in the middle of the handle. I wonder if anyone could please help me find out who the manufacturer was
and any other information that you might have… Thank you… Richard Andrews
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Without a name on it you are probably out of luck. That's the reverse of the Nazi Swastika which is a common symbol from Native Americans and some Eastern Religions. It would depend if that was a symbol used by the maker to designate the brand or just something he used. Maybe a dedicated brush collector will come by and have one similar.
Otherwise you could check out the N.Y Public Library and run down brush makers in the early-mid 20th century located in N.Y.C
When the brush was made it probably wasn't a "Swastika" and I think you are making a leap to which direction it is "Turned"
The symbol is very ancient and has many different meanings...
Quite a few of the NY companies used Native American names and symbols for their razor stuff so the odds are leaning in that direction
As mentioned, this is an ancient symbol and prior to WWII was used by numerous companies and was, among others, a good luck sign. I have dozens of postcards that have them, I have an adjustable wrench with the sign. The, as I remember, Oklahoma Nat Guard unit that served in WWI used this in their patch. I will try to post some of the above stated. But as gssixgun says it is very old and not NAZI
I am no historian by any means but I do think that you can look at the other end of the spectrum and realize that during world war 2 there was a large National Socialist Party in the United States who supported the Nazi Party. While these guys are absolutely correct it was an ancient symbol you can look at it from the other end and see that during world war 2 if the piece is from that era that that could be a Nazi symbol.
One more thing, in general the old ancient Nazi symbol when it was used for religious and good luck purposes was usually reversed.
more pictures with symbol. Same direction of points.
These cards are all from 1909 and 1910 well before the Nazi's anywhere.
see 45th Infantry Division (United States) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
for the patch of OK nat guard prior to WWII
I find it absolutely incredible that such an ancient symbol that goes back to before the Roman Empire was turned into such a symbol of hatred an intolerance.
Although we have associatd the swastika with nazism, it is an ancient symbol, quite popular to almost all ancient civilizations (from India, to Ancient Greece, Rome or the Vikings).
For the record, there is a beautiful building in Athens city centre, designed by the famous architect Ernst Ziller in 1878,which used to be the estate of the -also- famous archeologist Heinrich Schliemann. The building is decorated with swastikas on the floors and the fence and many passing people wonder if it was build during German occupation!
Now the building in open as a numismatic museum.(NUMISMATIC MUSEUM ATHENS)
Today, that symbol instills fear into the hearts of many. What is was before makes no difference. It will forever be tied the the Nazi party.
..........True ........:(
It used to be a symbol of life and longevity. Then the Nazi party adopted it and it now has a different connotation.
Perhaps on a long enough time line the human race can accept this symbol as something more in line with its pre-nazi meaning...but I doubt it.
As for the history and affiliation of the maker and original purchaser of that brush...I tend to lean toward belief that it was not associated with the Nazi movement.
I have been researching this brush for about an hour now just because it has piqued my interest. From everything that I've seen it was probably made in the 1920's. I have actually found an old post on SRP about the same kind of brush. As a lot of people know the Nazi Party did not adopt the swastika until the 1930's. I am no historian like I said but doing the research it looks like this was not made for the American Bund party. It simply is just a Buddhist or Hindu symbol for good luck, unless it is at a roughly 45 degree angle, that is how Hitler used the swastika.
We have a Federal Courthouse in New Mexico built prior to 1930 and one of the courtrooms is lined with swastikas. As a matter of fact right behind where the judge sits is an eagle holding a huge swastika.
it is funny how Hitler distorted certain things to the point that we cannot even use them for their original purpose anymore....Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Yeah, he also ruined the "postage stamp mustache". I saw this some time ago, I also notice that there is a Swastika Drug Co on the list, perhaps a shave brush could have been one of theirs?Quote:
Originally Posted by anthogia
Lucky Swastikas Retronaut | Retronaut - See the past like you wouldn't believe.
I have an old Swatsika razor hone. It does not say where it was made, but everything on the box is in English. The symbol is not tilted, so it is not representative of Nazi Germany.
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Through a series of connections and coincidences far too long to get into here, my very reserved retired-RCMP Dad got to know an artist from Cranbrook BC who sadly passed away last year called Manwoman. To say he was an interesting dude would be a massive understatement.
One of his missions in life was to restore the original meaning of the swastika which, as has been mentioned above, was a symbol of peace, harmony, etc., in an incredibly diverse array of cultures around the world. I remember taking a picture for him of the tiles in a building at the University of Manitoba that were in a repeating swastika pattern. It's a symbol that turns up in all sorts of places. I think that photo ended up in one of his books. Anyway, I just can't let any discussion of the history of the swastika without giving credit to this wonderfully strange and fascinating artist and what was his life work.
I think that when it comes to uphill lifelong struggles, restoring the pre-Nazi meaning of the swastika must be one of the big ones.
BTW, my favourite piece of Manwoman art? "Moodonna and Child" A wonderfully whimsical print of a cow and calf that has adorned my folks' house for at least 25 years. :) I just wish I could find a pic of it...
Manwoman's website: manwoman.net
I have an old gas clayback heater from way back in my family with a swatstika (not tilted) on the gas valve/burner. Just goes to show. A little slant on anything ruins everything.
JMO
I would like to thank everyone for their input… If anybody can point me towards a manufacturer I would be forever grateful… Thank you very much… Richard Andrews
I just wanted to thank everyone for all their help, as I'm new to this forum I appreciate the ability to be able to post and have other people's opinions! So again thank you very much… Richard Andrews
Good luck finding the origins of the brush! Please do let us know when you do. If it's from before 1920, when the nazi party adopted it as it's symbol, it's one of the "good ones."
Here's a pretty short, but well coverd history of the symbol.
History of the Swastika
Yes! As quoted, despite its origins, the swastika has become so widely associated with Nazi Germany that contemporary uses frequently incite controversy.
Seems it shall never be the same, even though earlier examples' meanings are forgotten! Sad!
They copy it in the late 1920's from the helmets of Earnhardt battalion who hatted AdolfQuote:
Originally Posted by anthogia
It was when the Freikorps fought against Spartacists to save their country
He kept it as a symbol for his party although for the army make it turn
His historians told him Not to do it because was bad luck sign,he didn't want to hear them.
Swastika was once in a Coca-Cola advertise although you can found it in the ancient Parthenon or in Agia-Sofia temple
In the ancient Greece was a very common symbol,you can see it everywhere !
http://eytanuliel.files.wordpress.co...wastika001.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dbT040j.jpg
http://static.neatorama.com/images/2...ockey-team.jpg
http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/up...-swastikas.bmp
Red,white and black were the colours of
the flag of the old German Empire
Also a copy from the Greeks,were the colours of King Leonidas shield and latter the colours of our revolution flags at 1821.
I have two volumes of Kipling's "Jungle Books" that have the swastika. They are from about 1890.
Dave
In my honest opinion i think that the swastika in this brush has nothing to do with the nazis but it is just an old symbol. Why would anyone want to get a brush with a symbol from any political party?
Howevers what it comes to swastika in general that is just an old symbol meaning good luck. Too bad nazis spoiled it.
Swastika was also a symbol of our defence forces long before the nazis adopted it. Howevers blue swastika is still used by our Air Force even today. Not in planes but in flags and there's also swastika in several military medals.
Here's a pic of the flag of Air Combat Academy. Also all air fleets use almost a same kind of flag.
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/...ps640adcde.jpg
During WWll Germany was very proud of it's Fuhrer and many items were produced for public sale with the swastika and likenesses of Hitler on it. So you have to look at the item and when it was produced and why it was produced.
Yes,they created even slippers with the swastika on it and sell them to the fans.
That is the most unusual travel razor I have ever seen (read the top of the page)-looks like a travel BRUSH to me, mabe it's just my glasses.
Well, you know those Nazi's. The brush is so tough it can be used as a razor as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul38
