Thread: About Barbers

Originally Posted by Purvis

Actually no I did not, thanks for the reply. The only thing that I could surmise is that the barbers made their own scents and or hair tonics and used the bottles to distribute it to the customers. But I don't know for sure. So yes more info would be helpful thank you.

Sean

At one time, long ago, barbers did make their own concoctions - hair tonics, shampoos, aftershaves etc.

Later, the big barber supply companys started producing hair and face products for barbers, and supplied re-fillable, give-away art glass bottles, often labeled for the product with fancy glazed on script and floral paintings. This was an attempt encourage the barber to continue buying the said product from that particular barber supply. Sometimes the bottles were custom decorated for a particular patron of the barber shop with the customer's name, and the customer's favorite product such as "Bay Rum," "Hair Tonic," or a strange product called "Sea Foam."

Later on, as health laws changed, the law forbade the re-filling of bottles used for products used on the public, and the era of fancy barber bottles was over.

This is by no means a complete history of the barber bottle, just off the top of my head, but I hope this helps a little.


Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

At one time, long ago, barbers did make their own concoctions - hair tonics, shampoos, aftershaves etc.

Later, the big barber supply companys started producing hair and face products for barbers, and supplied re-fillable, give-away art glass bottles, often labeled for the product with fancy glazed on script and floral paintings. This was an attempt encourage the barber to continue buying the said product from that particular barber supply. Sometimes the bottles were custom decorated for a particular patron of the barber shop with the customer's name, and the customer's favorite product such as "Bay Rum," "Hair Tonic," or a strange product called "Sea Foam."

Later on, as health laws changed, the law forbade the re-filling of bottles used for products used on the public, and the era of fancy barber bottles was over.

This is by no means a complete history of the barber bottle, just off the top of my head, but I hope this helps a little.


Scott

Very much so and very interesting! That transforms the curiosity to appeal in these bottles for me.
Thank you very much Scott.

Sean

Originally Posted by Purvis

Very much so and very interesting! That transforms the curiosity to appeal in these bottles for me.
Thank you very much Scott.

Sean

There's so much more to barber bottles, and shaving mugs, and if you are really interested get this book by Keith Estep: http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Mug-Ba.../dp/0887407617

Keith is one of the top people on collecting barber bottles and mugs. Tons of pics and great info.


Scott

Thanks for the link!

This was a fantasic read, thanks for putting it up. Nnow I will continue the rest of my day with a grin.

As I said on the other recent barber thread, I go to a barbershop that employs a father and two sons, and while none of them do a bang-up job on my head, there is a clear ranking in order of quality...I have been fortunate enough to get my hair cut by #1 only once, but he is far superior to #2, who is slightly superior to #3.

I laughed until tears came to my eyes at Twain's narration of his anxious wait between the two barbers, as my experiences mirror his exactly every time I go. It's always a horse race between the barber I really want and the one I really don't want, and I live and die with every task they perform...oh, #1 is brushing the loose hair off his customer! Oh no, #3 is wrapping up as well! Come on, #1, you can do it! Oh, no, his customer is talking to him about a football team...SHUT UP you fool! Leave him alone! Oh good, he is done...but #3 is done as well...it's a race to the cash register...YES, #1 is finished first, I am up! But wait! He is going out for a smoke...NOOOOOO. Number 3: "Next?"

Every time.

Twain had it so right, as usual.