Shave by Electricity

Occasionally I like to browse old Popular Mechanics magazines, it's such a treasure trove of information covering the past 100 years or so. It's also wonderful for comparing the "most technologically advanced product to date" with products from a century ago. It seems many things aren't really new at all, they're only rehashed ideas with a fancy new package and time appropriate buzz-words.

Today I stumbled upon the advert to the left; what appears to be an early model electric razor. The basic principle of this system is that it vibrates the blade in a slight horizontal motion similar to that of a jigsaw, only a bit less severe of course. I imagine putting a vibrating razor blade to bare skin would lead to a rather red result however. "No more pull, no irritation, thousands sold" these words are as at home then as they are now. It's quite amazing how little has changed from the advertising speak of then and now.

This system also bears a striking resemblance to the new Gillette Fusion Power shaving system recently released. This latest technological advancement in shaving comes from our friends at Gillette who have painstaking researched the idea that 6 blades held together with plastic is far superior to anything before it. Still I feel like it's been done before, possibly better. Replace the power cord on the Tark electric with a battery, the double edge blade with an array of 5 and a half blades, and the advert with a page of $50 buzz-words and unsubstantiated claims and you have the product of the future in 1938.