Thread: Williams Shaving Soap History

James Baker Williams was born in 1818 in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1834 he worked for a general store and became part owner for a few years then sold his half because he was founding Williams & Brothers in 1840 when he developed Williams Genuine Yankee soap.



By popular demands for his soaps and other products in 1847 Williams moved the company to William Street in Glastonbury, Connecticut. And the company name was changed to the James B. Williams and Company.



By 1885, the company change name again to J. B. Williams Company, its line of produts including shaving creams, talcum powder and
other toilet preparations.




In 1907, the original founder of the company died and the family took over the business until 1957 when it was purchase by a New York based conglomerate, Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In 1960, the Williams Company moved to Cranford, New Jersey. In 1971, the J.B. Williams Company was sold to Nabisco and still to this day making the Williams Shaving Mug Soap.

Where did you get the information from?

I once wrote to them requesting history as well as any pictures they may have of packaging through the years. The reply was essentially, "We're too busy to respond to those type of requests". IIRC, they also mentioned something about protected trade information regarding the packaging, though I don't see how that would apply.

Anyhow, thanks for digging up the history.

Thank you for this history. As a regular user of Williams I always wanted more of the info on this great soap.

Thanks for posting as I am interested in Williams shave soap. Having had a chance to try a 1920s/30s era Williams shave stick all I can say is that I now know why it "had" a well deserved reputation. I think old JB would turn over in his grave if he had a chance to use the current product bearing his name. I can't believe how inferior, though usable, the current product is by comparison.

Bob

Originally Posted by HNSB

I once wrote to them requesting history as well as any pictures they may have of packaging through the years. The reply was essentially, "We're too busy to respond to those type of requests". IIRC, they also mentioned something about protected trade information regarding the packaging, though I don't see how that would apply.

Interesting response from the company, but further findings on trademark violation makes me understand their response, as early as 1857, the now famous "Genuine Yankee soap" was allready in a court battle with another company.

Found a few more interesting things about the factory and its workers.
- In 1840 the company employed 7 person.
-in 1860 the company was up to 14 person, the men mixed the compounds, boiled the tallow, and pressed the soap into bars. The woman wrapped and labeled the soaps.
-It was one of the first factories to hire women.
-The factory ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer and from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the winter, six days a week.

after reading all this my next shave i will include my puck of William's ... i tried it once before i knew how to lather and never since , they carry it at most pharmacy's around me

Originally Posted by gooser

after reading all this my next shave i will include my puck of William's ... i tried it once before i knew how to lather and never since , they carry it at most pharmacy's around me

Don't expect any miracles, especially if you're used to the good stuff . As others have said, it's usable but that's about it IMO.

Williams. Love it or hate it! I use it regularly to Uber other soaps with great success. I have a dedicated mug with a puck always in the bottom. As I started straight-shaving, I used it for several years exclusively. One must know how to lather it up!
Now Vanderhagen......that stuff is useless!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Williams. Love it or hate it! As I started straight-shaving, I used it for several years One must know how to lather it up!

Totally agree, once you know the lather is fine. Saxon recent shave video demonstrate that as a few guys were wondering about the lather, and were probably shocked that it was Williams : http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ing-video.html