Monday, April 25, 2011

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.

15 comments:

  1. It's amazing how much buzz marketing they used back then. When I look in old magazines & comics there's a ridiculous amount of ads in there! The electric razor has come a long way :D

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  2. yep, advertising hasn't changed too much

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  3. I always get shocked when I read about stuff from way back, for some reason I always underestimate them.

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  4. It's not really that amazing: core human psychology still remains the same and advertisers found all the bugs in our brains long time ago....

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  5. and i thought eletric shavers were new

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  6. The look on that guy's face is soooo phony! hahah

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  7. lol well i dont know too much about facial razors, thank god :-). But really a vibrating razor? that sounds scary and like it would cut, if i don't want to put that on my legs, it definitely shouldnt be on someones face lol

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  8. World War II era ads have always been a favorite of mine. With all the patriotism surrounding products that are, in most cases, still available they make for interesting viewing material.

    Following

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  9. The guy in the ad probably is crying, but can't because he is in an ad. Electric shavers have been in society for over like 20 years? Amazing to learn.

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  10. that proglide looks nice. :)

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  11. I'm going to start smiling like that when I shave.

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  12. Old ads are very interesting)

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