Author Topic: Hair History  (Read 8286 times)

greenacres

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Hair History
« on: December 17, 2010, 01:25:01 pm »
I found this in an old house we bought to sell. (when the market was good, lol) I fell in love with it. I'm not sure if it's one of the first blow dryers.
" Energy and Persistence conquer all things."

waywardangler

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2010, 01:29:52 pm »
I used to buy that type at rummage sales for a quarter to use in setting up varnish and paint faster.  The metal part gets very hot unlike todays plastic housed blow dryers.  I also think they used asbestos around the heating element parts so they are off the market.  I saw an old Racine brand on etsy this week that they claimed was the first model.  Not so sure about that claim.

This one on etsy is $40.00.  Hand held dryers were introduced by the US Racine Universal Motor Company (Wisconsin) in 1920.   Their shipping is ridiculous...  ship to cost         with another item
                                                                   United States  $29.75 USD       $68.00 USD 


« Last Edit: December 17, 2010, 01:45:52 pm by waywardangler »

greenacres

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2010, 02:55:28 pm »
I love the stand. Blow dyers today should have something like this. As my husbands grandmother would say, "It's a convienence!"
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KC

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2010, 10:12:10 pm »
Just had to find a picture of this antique hair curler.  Remember seeing ones like it in country towns!


And how about a vibrating curling iron shown in a 1940 Popular Mechanics magazine
« Last Edit: December 17, 2010, 10:16:35 pm by KC »
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greenacres

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2010, 07:06:10 pm »
That had to do some damage, lol The pain women go through to look beautiful. For some reason your first picture didn't work.
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KC

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2010, 07:52:02 pm »
Thanks, posting another picture and a little history.  Note the first curling solution ingredients!
"An early alternative method for curling hair that was suitable for use on people was invented in 1905 by German hairdresser Charles Nessler (1872–1951). He used a mixture of cow urine and water. The first public demonstration took place on October 8, 1905, but Nessler had been working on the idea since 1896. Previously, wigs had been set with caustic chemicals to form curls, but these recipes were too harsh to use next to human skin. His method, called the spiral heat method, was only useful for long hair. The hair was wrapped in a spiral around rods connected to a machine with an electric heating device. Sodium hydroxide, (caustic soda), was applied and the hair was heated (212°F; 100°C or more) for an extended period of time. The process used about twelve, two-pound brass rollers and took six hours to complete. These hot rollers were kept from touching the scalp by a complex system of countering weights which were suspended from an overhead chandelier and mounted on a stand. His first experiments were conducted on his wife, Katharina Laible. The first two attempts resulted in completely burning her hair off and some scalp burns, but the method was improved and his electric permanent wave machine was used in London in 1909 on the long hair of the time."

Recognize Mrs. Walton?
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sreyomac

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2013, 10:51:12 pm »
Thanks, posting another picture and a little history.  Note the first curling solution ingredients!
"An early alternative method for curling hair that was suitable for use on people was invented in 1905 by German hairdresser Charles Nessler (1872–1951). He used a mixture of cow urine and water. The first public demonstration took place on October 8, 1905, but Nessler had been working on the idea since 1896. Previously, wigs had been set with caustic chemicals to form curls, but these recipes were too harsh to use next to human skin. His method, called the spiral heat method, was only useful for long hair. The hair was wrapped in a spiral around rods connected to a machine with an electric heating device. Sodium hydroxide, (caustic soda), was applied and the hair was heated (212°F; 100°C or more) for an extended period of time. The process used about twelve, two-pound brass rollers and took six hours to complete. These hot rollers were kept from touching the scalp by a complex system of countering weights which were suspended from an overhead chandelier and mounted on a stand. His first experiments were conducted on his wife, Katharina Laible. The first two attempts resulted in completely burning her hair off and some scalp burns, but the method was improved and his electric permanent wave machine was used in London in 1909 on the long hair of the time."

Recognize Mrs. Walton?
I found a perm wave machine in a little shop near me. Like the one in the picture above. Its complete with the rods and all. not in great shape tho, but it could be cleaned. what do you think its value is? Is it collectible?
« Last Edit: January 12, 2013, 10:55:50 pm by sreyomac »

KC

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2013, 12:10:55 am »
You rarely find them at all anymore.  They have been trashed and used for parts.  So, yes it will be worth something.  But to find anything to compare at this point...will be hard pressed.
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mart

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2013, 05:29:43 am »
I can`t think of anyone that collects these things !!  Only interest would be for a salon !! Can`t imagine they would pay much for one !! More of a curiousity than anything else !!

bigwull

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mart

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, 07:32:19 pm »
I can see some collecting a blow dryer or two,, but this 4 ft monster was for a permanent wave !!  Curling straight hair !!  With chemicals !!  Its scary !!

KC

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2013, 01:25:25 am »
Mart, if I had a salon I would keep one to remind people how utterly spoiled we are these days!  :)

I am sure there has to be a museum out there that would want this!!!!
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Ipcress

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2013, 04:56:26 am »
Looks like something from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

mart

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Re: Hair History
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2013, 06:57:40 am »
Having spent all my growing up years in a beauty salon (mother was a beautician) I thank God for blow dryers !!