subject: The History Of Electrical Razors [print this page] Razors have been available for a very long time, although electrical razors didn't come into existence until the 1930's. Since then, they have very much advanced and are now a fundamental in countless people's beauty repertoires.
Although there were initial experiments with clockwork and friction motor, electrical razors didn't appear until the 1930's. The electrical razor was a actually invented by Canadian Jacob Schick in the 1920's. He thought for sure that a man's age could be extended to 120 years if he properly shaved.
Schick had already created a structure where a person could slot in new blades into a razor devoid of needing to touch them, so an electrical razor was the next step. He did develop with a hideous device that was much too large to market, but it had to be further developed to make it less difficult to use. He waited until an electrical motor that was minute enough to fit into a handheld machine, but also powerful enough to cut through a beard, was created.
He sold his 1st electric razor in 1931 for $25 in New York. In the same year he managed to trade a massive 3,000 more. This form enclosed an oscillating induction motor that drove a sliding cutter in a slotted shearing head. The motor had to actually be 'kick-started' using an exposed turn wheel. All of these components were housed in a sleek, black, Bakelite machine that could easily be held comfortably in single hand.
Schick's electrical razor caught on, and by 1937 1.5 million were in use with its market worth of $20 million.
Of course rivals came out of the woodwork, and so did several patent infringements & lawsuits. One such competitor was Gillette, a name that is well-branded these days.
The Remington 'Close Shaver' and the Sunbeam 'Shavemaster' were also introduced in 1937. The latter used a brush motor with a foil shearing head, which was surely different than Schick's motor and slotted cutter.
Two years afterward the Philips "Philishave' launched in the Netherlands, using another technology of a rotating blade behind a round shearing head.
At the time the cutting area of these electrical razors was quite minor. In fact, they generally covered an area only a quarter of the size by those of modern electrical razors.
Electric razor technology soon introduced in Britain in the mid 1930's. Their brand names, such as 'Viceroy' and 'Zenith', suggested they were the most up to date tool that could be found. However, it wasn't until American servicemen arrived in Britain that the electric razor actually caught on.
The electric razor also gained popularity when Hollywood grew to become tangled. Viewed in such films as The Long Wait and Rear Window, the electric razor was undeniably seen as a gadget for the modern guy.
Throughout the years the electrical razor greatly developed. For example, products for women were planned. This was something that was not observed until the late 1940's.
These days dry shaving isn't necessarily the only option. Some can now be utilised in conjunction with shaving cream, whilst others can be utilised in the shower.
Mobile, battery-operated products are also offered.
