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A friend of mine from Knoxville found this photo in an estate sale of a well known Knoxville photographer, and gave it to me this weekend. The store display is obviously early 20th century, but is undated. I could have saved it for nearer to Christmas, but couldn't wait....
Attachment 297392 Attachment 297393 Attachment 297394
If only I had a time machine, I’d go back and scoop the entire window display.
I guess its the history teacher in me, but I like the idea that one of us may be shaving with one of those blades this week.
Outstanding!
Great photo. It's a real piece of history.
Looks like the high price on a Rubberset brush is $2.00. Wow!
Those were the days..
Pete <:-}
Some long handles on those DE's. Cool pic.
Thanks for sharing that! Like going back in a time machine!
Didn’t know Santa Claus lived in a cutlery shop.
Awesome present, btw. Always nice to be thought of.
This is something that crosses my mind as well when I see old photos like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrZ
Great photo, thanks so much for sharing
I wonder if we could guess the date? rubber set brushes .60 cents to $2.00. Hmmm a brush like that today would be about $25.00? 1940s?
Look at the safety's...Seems all lather-catchers you would have to hone and strop? No DE's? . May be late 1800's.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterClean
The Gillette experts can say? The design of the strops say old. The sewn-on handles.
Thinking I could buy that bike for 30 bucks! :rofl2:
Must be a top bike. That was a pile back then. Nice pics!
Since we cannot possibly wait for DE experts to come along on a straight razor focused forum, I decided to put on my NCSI hat and zoom in on the pic details. :popcorn:
I noticed the Spalding Red Dot golf balls. A quick wave of the Google brings up dates between 1908 and 1915 (when a dozen balls were priced at $6 per dozen; not sure if resale or wholesale though). Too bad there’s no price tag seen near the golf balls.
Edit: from another article on the history of the golf ball — “The early-Haskell ball, like its predecessors, did have one drawback; it was still very smooth! Enterprising professionals like Jim and Dave Foulis began to take the Haskell ball and “mark” it (in effect giving it a “dimple-type” pattern) which allowed it to fly further. Today’s dimple patterns were born out of these early “markings”. But in 1905 an English Engineer, William Taylor, developed and in 1907 he was granted the patent for the dimple pattern we know today. When the Spalding Company purchased the US rights to his patent in 1908, the birth of the commercial ball market in America had begun. The familiar Spalding trademark “DOT” began and would be used for almost 60 years.”
Golf balls were expensive back then too!
When did the 1st Gillette DE's come out?
Where are those DE guys when we need ‘em anyways, Tom? :p
Would that not be an NCIS hat?
Sheesh, here ya go....:rofl2:
Quote:
But it wasn't until 1901 that King C. Gillette fundamentally transformed shaving with the invention of the first safety razor, which was granted a patent on November 15th, 1904.
King Camp Gillette was granted the first patent for the de blade in 1904. Not sure though when they became widely used. As gleaned from Wikipedia.
You’re fast Mark
Between the golf balls and that, a date can be narrowed down pretty tight?
I’m kinda surprised we are not seeing a Gillette on the board quite honestly because I’m thinking 1910 to 1915 or so. Maybe I can go search up Rubberset brush pricing...
@jfk742 — Spent my whole life on one keyboard or another, my friend. ;)
Seems this ad is 1908 at latest, give or take a year? Nice work, Speedster! :D
From a 1907 copy of Everybody’s Magazine where Rubberset brushes were priced from $1 to $5.
Curious why they are advertised in the window as “Rubber Set” brushes using two, non-patented words. :)
*edit — be sure to scroll up a few pages in that magazine for a Gillette safety razor advert.
I expect the words separated were before they ran together. Again old stuff.
Everyone set their brushes in natural rubber or some formula back in the day.
Seems Rubberset bought out a few names to do it.
'Set in rubber' was a common thing for many makers to proclaim?
Someone wrote up a history of the Rubberset company where I found this:
“The brush division of the Rubber & Celluloid Harness Trimmings Company didn't have it's own name. There was a contest with the employees in the company to pick the best name and "Rubberset Company" was chosen. Andrew Jr. decided to focus on growing this arm of the company and began an extensive and expensive advertising campaign. The first use of the name "Rubberset" was on May 15, 1905, just two months after Andrew Sr's passing.”
http://oldschoolshavingbrushes.com/r...y_history.html
Annnd There you have it, Folks!
Excellent detective work, Mark! :chapeau
Thanks, Tom. That was actually a lot of fun and a very informative look back at shaving history.
I was also surprised golf balls cost that much back then, but I suppose it’s always been an elite sport. :shrug:
It WAS fun! I am a lazy sort, so I try to stimulate others. It's SO much easier! :D
Looking at other's discoveries is quite fun! And educational!
Missed this thread yesterday, so I just read it in bed this morning...
That was a really cool read!
Great detective work thank you!
I too in awe looking at that pic, how many of us have used any of those razors or brushes?!
:beer1:
This is a great thread. Now lets identify some blades and see who has them or something like them.
They are lather catcher single edge wedge type, and look outlandishly long because the handle has a honing guide for the wedge blades pushed into the end. The handles are rather long even without it in place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedster
Attachment 297419
Excellent detective work guys. My friend informs me that the photo was indeed dated December 24, 1909. Woodruff's Window Display.
