Thread: The Speed-Shaving Champion of England, 1908

I found some old newspaper articles and cartoons (c.1900-1940) on barbering, clipped and glued to card stock, in the estate of an old barber (US). These were likely posted inside his barbershop for the customers' enjoyment. One of these articles caught my attention:

The quick-shaving champion of England, and possibly of the world, is Robert Hardie, a Manchester barber. Hardie's record of shaving five men in one minute and 15 seconds stood for some years, but not long ago the champion of the razor thought he would try for a new and better mark, so he shaved six men in one minute and 29 seconds.

Now he challenges the world, offering a bet of 500 pounds sterling, and his money can be won by anyone who will match him at either quick shaving or blindfold shaving.

Barber Hardie can shave one man, no matter how harsh his beard, in 12 seconds, or he will let himself be blindfolded and then make a clean job of it in 27 seconds. Besides these feats, which are accomplished with an ordinary straight razor, Hardie will give any man a perfectly satisfactory shave with a carving knife in 45 seconds, or with a penknife in 28 seconds.

It takes me 20 minutes, from strop to splash.

Christopher

Obviously he's using a Filly.

Geez, and I thought Willie was fast!

Very interesting. Thing is, back then, str8 razoring was the norm not the exception.

WOW! that is unreal....I can't even imagine that.

Can you imagine the aftershave burn after being shaved with a carving knife?? Yikes!

SOmehow, the thought of a 28 second blindfolded shave is not particularly appealing...

Originally Posted by CJBianco

Barber Hardie can shave one man, no matter how harsh his beard, in 12 seconds,

Musta been the "Johnny Ringo" of the barber world .

Yes but under that notice was the obituary notice for five guys.

That is an awesome article, he must have shaved a lot of customers to be able to put up a £500 challenge, then again when your averaging 15 secs a customer I bet you can fit quite a few shaves into a day.