Storeroom Stories: Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B

Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B

Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B

By Lydia Smith & Jesse Teague

The Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B was built in 19311932. There are many other styles of the Rainbow Hawkeye and this is the rarest one since it was only made for a year. The special thing about this camera is that it came in color options. It was now marketed to everyday people. They emphasized the small size of the camera so that the buyer would see how portable it was to carry around for everyday events.

The cameras that came before the Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B are slightly different. The No. 3A Folding Autographic Brownie was made from 19161926. It was special for its film. The film was created so that you could write on the back of it. It was mainly used for people to remember a location, time, or settings that were used to take the picture. People also wrote their signatures on the film to verify it was their photograph. This camera was also one of the first to have rounded edges.[1] The No 2A Folding Cartridge 1 Hawkeye Model B was created in 19261934. It was slightly smaller than the No. 3A. This model had special lenses so that the images were presented more clearly. The No. 1A Pocket Kodak Series II was built from 19281932. It was much smaller in size, closer to the size of the Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B. It was built with a Meniscus Achromatic lens in Kodex shutter. It also offered a few color options, but not as many options as the No. 2A Folding Model B.[2]

The Rainbow Hawkeye No. 2A Folding Model B came in many color options. It came in blue, brown, green, old rose, and black. The exterior was covered in a fake leatherette bounding. It cost $9 to buy the camera then, and now it goes for $25-75.[3] It also had a single 3 achromatic or
RR lens. This camera was available for premium purchases and at times featured in Eastman
Kodak’s catalogs.[4]

1. “Retired Cameras.” Retired Cameras . N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
2. Britton, Rebecca. “Types of Cameras Used in the 1930s.” EHow . Demand Media, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
3. “No 2A Folding Rainbow HawkEye Model B Camera.” National Media Museum . N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
4. “Kodak HawkEye Cameras.” the Brownie Camera Page . N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Anna Hayward Taylor’s Batik

138955-49541 - Textile - Kate Lesser - Sep 27, 2015 208 PM - unnamedBy Brittany Boyd & Kate Lesser

Anna Heyward Taylor (1879-1956) was an American artist native to Columbia, South Carolina. Raised by an affluent family with origins in the cotton industry, Taylor was an avid traveler and learner of all things related to art.

Taylor’s work widely ranges in terms of medium and subject matter. Her work often reflected her surroundings and the places she visited during her worldly travels. Taylor is best known for her woodblock and linoleum prints that depicted scenes of the South, i.e. Harvesting Rice (1936). [1] While this type of work is more commonly associated with Taylor, she was a dynamic artist who also explored techniques new to her such as batik. Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to textiles.
The Charleston Museum received seven of her silk batiks from the artist herself in 1955. These batiks depict exotic plants that the artist recorded during her excursion to British Guiana with naturalist William Beebe.

How Anna Hayward Taylor came about learning the batik method is uncertain, but through tracing her travels and referencing the book Selected Letters of Anna Heyward Taylor: South Carolina Artist and World Traveler by Edmund Taylor and Alexander Moore, it can be concluded that she learned one of two ways.

Taylor’s first experience with batik methods might have been during her travels in Asia in August of 1914.[2] In a letter to her family back in South Carolina, the artist talks about how she experimented with the Japanese printmaking art of shoji screens. Shoji screens are sliding doors composed of lattice screen covered in white paper which has designs and patterns printed on it. While in Japan, Taylor may have been exposed to other Japanese printmaking methods such as roketsuzome. The Japanese process of batik is known as roketsuzome or rōzome (“rō” translates as “wax”; “ketsu” translates as “resist or block out”; “zome” translates as “dye”). In rōzome, wax and dye are applied with a brush, which avoids batik’s signature crackling and allows for more subtle shading. [3] Japan is known for its printmaking culture therefore it is possible that Taylor was introduced to batik during her travels there.

Another possible way Taylor was exposed to batik was during her stay in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Taylor returned to Provincetown following her travels with William Beebe in 1916. Here, she was immersed in an artistic community. Taylor writes about being introduced to Marguerite and William Zorach, a free-spirited couple, devoted to the arts. Marguerite Zorach was a textile artist, well skilled in the batik method. The Zorach’s were both American-born but interested in ancient and non-European sources of design and art.[4] Marguerite was one of the first American artists to practice batik.

Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batik

https://www.etsy.com/listing/231021306/erika-1950s-batik-style-shirtwaist-dress?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=1950s%20batik&ref=sr_gallery_7

https://www.chairish.com/product/158991/vintage-batik-patchwork-blanket

http://maryedna.com/public-art/above-mobile-bay/

 

[1] “Anna Taylor,” The Johnson Collection, Accessed December 15, 2015.

[2]Moore, Alexander, and Edmund R. Taylor, Selected Letters of Anna Heyward Taylor: South Carolina Artist and World Traveler, 54.

[3] Petty, Marcia, “Dorothy “Bunny” Bowen: The Art of Rōzome,” Fiberarts, 2010, 28-29.

[4] “Zorach, Marguerite Thompson.” Dictionary Of Woman Artists, January 1, 1997, Accessed December 15, 2015.

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Barbie Ten Speeder, ca. 1970

Barbie 3By Shelby Konold

The toy company, Mattell Inc., took the world by storm with their introduction of the Barbie doll in March of 1959. Barbie was quite unique at the time, breaking out of the cultural norm into a world of endless possibilities. With various jobs ranging from airline stewardess to astronaut, she has empowered young girls to imagine a future where they can be anything they want to be. Since 1959, the Barbie brand has grown with the addition of other girl and boy dolls as well as a multitude of accessories.

With such a wide variety of options and companions, Barbie has a tendency to represent the popular culture of the decade. The 1960’s were all about fashion and hanging out at her dream house or in her new camper. In the 1970’s, we saw Barbie on the move and being more environmentally conscious as seen by the bike above, which reads “smog free” on the back. The 1980’s were all about technology with the introduction of her new cool motorbike. With each new decade, Barbie changes to meet the times and has and will continue to be a global icon for many years to come.

Sources

“History of Barbie Doll and Inventor Ruth Handler.” About.com Inventors. About.com, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/The-History-Of-Barbie-Dolls.htm>.

“History of the Mattel Toy Company.” About.com Inventors. About.com, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/The-History-Of-Barbie-Dolls_3.htm>.

“JCPenny Catalogue Outlet Store.” Milwaukee Sentinel [Milwaukee] 14 Nov. 1975: n. pag. Google News. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19751114&id=4HpIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0xEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5906,2297286&hl=en>.

“Patent US560103 – Toy Bicycle.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <https://www.google.com.ar/patents/US560103?dq=Toy%2BBicycle&hl=es-419&sa=X&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAGoVChMIn5LG5ajDyAIVQpUNCh2e8glM>.

Barbie 6 Barbie 7

Barbie 8Barbie 9

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: More than just a Collectible

Depression class, c. 1926. Pink depression glass pitcher on an octagonal foot; body tapers from top to bottom in a series of eight rings, eight sections in each ring. Angular spout and angular handle. Inside wall of pitcher is rounded.

Depression class, c. 1926. Pink depression glass pitcher on an octagonal foot; body tapers from top to bottom in a series of eight rings, eight sections in each ring. Angular spout and angular handle. Inside wall of pitcher is rounded.

By Madison Young

More than just another collection, Depression glass provides a hobby rich with history. During the Great Depression, Depression glass was often used as giveaways to persuade customers to purchase goods. This glass was often found anywhere from inside oatmeal boxes, detergent boxes, soapboxes, and more. Sometimes gas stations or movie theaters would even throw in a punch bowl and cups with the purchase of an oil change or movie ticket. From the late 1920s to the 1940s machine-pressed, tinted glassware like this was mass-produced in the United States. The Charleston Museum features a pink Depression glass pitcher, which was produced specifically by the Indiana Glass Company from 1926 to 1931. Families would collect series of glassware during these tough times, giving them a sense of longing for the glamorous days.

This specific Art-Deco style of Depression glass pitcher is titled “Tea Room”. This style was produced towards the beginning of the Indiana Glass Company. Prior to “Tea Room”, an Art Nouveau style of Depression glass was produced titled “Avocado” from 1923 to 1934. Following these two styles, “Lorainne”, “Hon on a Nest”, and “Orange Blossom” white milk glass were produced. Each style greatly depended on the time period in which it was produced. “Hon on a Nest”, produced in the 1930’s, was a very experimental design made when experimental designs were arising. “Orange Blossom”, which was a white milk glass, was produced prior to World War II when the restaurant and diner industry began to boom. White milk glass began to be produced because it is heat-resistant, perfect for hot tea and coffee. However, Depression glass like “Tea Room” were simply more popular to collect because of their easy accessibility during the Great Depression.

Avocado, 1923-1934

Avocado, 1923-1934

Lorainne, 1929

Lorainne, 1929

Hen on a Nest, 1930’s

Hen on a Nest, 1930’s

Orange Blossom White Milk Glass, 1950’s

Orange Blossom White Milk Glass, 1950’s

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: General Electric D-12 Toaster

Maker: General Electric Co. Measurements: H: 17.5cm W: 20.4cm D: 10.1 Materials: metal, ceramic, paint, mica Description: Toaster with rectangular ceramic base, splayed legs; it is decorated with gold trim along the edges & multicolored floral garlands sprays on top and sides, all on a white ground. One foot is chipped. Plug terminal found on narrow side. Secured onto the flat top are four vertical coils wrapped around thin layers of mica, and are attached at the top to ceramic discs. Surrounding the coils & forming slots on both sides are metal which are bent to shape and hooked together. Donor: Miss M. D. Ravenel

Maker: General Electric Co.
Measurements:
H: 17.5cm
W: 20.4cm
D: 10.1
Materials: metal, ceramic, paint, mica
Description: Toaster with rectangular ceramic base, splayed legs; it is decorated with gold trim along the edges & multicolored floral garlands sprays on top and sides, all on a white ground. One foot is chipped. Plug terminal found on narrow side. Secured onto the flat top are four vertical coils wrapped around thin layers of mica, and are attached at the top to ceramic discs. Surrounding the coils & forming slots on both sides are metal which are bent to shape and hooked together.
Donor: Miss M. D. Ravenel

By James Alan Pool & Juliette Hotard

The General Electric D-12 Toaster, patented in 1908, became one of the first successful electric toasters in the United States. Through the innovation of electricity and “Ni Chrome” heating technology, the D-12 Toaster paved the way for modern cooking appliances. Given the nickname the “radiant” toaster, advertisements labeled the item as a must have for every modern household and a source of pride for every modern housewife.

The D-12 Toaster was able to toast bread through a new heating element called “Ni-Chrome”. This new heating element was invented by Albert L. Marsh in 1905 and the wire coils were constructed from the combination of elements nickel and chromium. In contrast with light bulbs, which failed in exposed oxygen, the Ni-chrome wire glowed red in open air without breaking. This would ultimately make the D-12 Toaster practical and manufacturers would start to use this technology in space heaters and other appliances.

A General Electric advertisement from 1908 taken from the Library of Congress depicts two well dressed women sitting at a table leisurely having breakfast with their D-12 toaster, complete with a floral design on the ceramic base, sitting beside them. Women were the main target for General Electric’s advertisements because they were seen as the consumers of the household. One major selling point was the ability to “get out of the messy kitchen” and be able to join your company in “the comfortable dining room.” This made the D12 toaster not only a more practical and efficient way to toast bread, but also a way to show off to others.

In 1909 the D-12 was sold for four dollars, which is about one hundred dollars today, and for the people who had the money to purchase this modern toaster, showing off to friends and neighbors was important. The floral design and gold trim communicate to the consumer that this appliance is a luxury item that should be displayed. General Electric was also clever with their 1911 advertisement, using the phrase “Begin Your Collection of this beautiful Thermo-Electric Ware with the General Electric Radiant Toaster” implying that the D-12 was not a singular purchase, and to be a truly modern household one would need the entire collection. General Electric’s D-12 “Radiant” Toaster shows the modern innovations of the early 20th century and demonstrates how American businesses were advertising to consumers of the time.

toaster2 toaster1Sources

Finn, Bernard S., “Collectors and Museums,” in Exposing Electronics, (Harwood Academic Publishers, 2000).

Fisher, Charles P., Early Electric American Toasters, (self published: Framingham, MA, 1987).

http://www.toaster.org/1900.php

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/kitchen/toasters

http://www.fortmissoulamuseum.org/blog/?tag=toaster

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Design and Conflict: Yuan Tea Cup and Saucer

Yuan Teacup and Saucer by Wood & Sons

Yuan Teacup and Saucer by Wood & Sons

By Abigael Appleton

Designed by Frederick Alfred Rhead, who was a descendent of generations of potters and the father of Charlotte Rhead, for the company Wood & Sons, The Yuan Cup and Saucer was considered to be the company’s most successful design and was available on many other types of dishware aside from just tea cups and saucers. The Yuan design is accomplished through Copper Plate transfer usually producing a blue or brown transfer though the multi-colored pieces where hand painted over transfer prints. This design was introduced in 1916 and stayed in production until around the 1980’s because of Yuan’s popularity and then again in 2003 Wood & Sons attempted to reintroduce the design. The Wood & Sons logo has changed many times throughout the years and often these designs are vastly different. The Yuan back stamp can typically be found on items from 1915 and forward and is also likely to be designed by Rhead.

abigael1

Yuan was release during a period between Art Nouveau and Art Deco in which eastern design was often being copied or adapted to a designers work. Similar to earlier ideas of Japonisme, which was usually the reproductions or pieces inspired by Japanese works, the Yuan design has a clear eastern influence. Oddly there was a dispute between the companies of Wood & Son’s and Furnival over the ownership of the Yuan design. This was caused because Furnival had released the design of Old Chelsea around the same time as Yuan. Both designs are similar enough to be confused for the other at a distance or a glance. This dispute was resolved when Rhead maintained in court that he had copied the design from a Chinese plate from the Yuan Dynasty at a British museum.

Works Cited

Bumpus, Bernard, and Frank Salmon. Collecting Charlotte Rhead: Price and Valuation  Guide 2014. N.p.: Francis Joseph Publications, 2014. Issuu. 2014. Web. 28 Nov.  2015.

“Rhead, Frederick Hurten.” Hutchinson Encyclopedia Of   Biography (2000): Biography Reference Bank (H.W. Wilson). Web. 2 Dec. 2015.

“Teacup and Saucer.” Lovers of Blue and White. N.p., n.d., Web. 03 Dec. 2015.

“Wood and Sons.” Beauville Antiques. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

 

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Wilkinson Sword Razor Co., 7-day Empire Shaving Kit

The Shaving Kit at the Charleston Museum

The Shaving Kit at the Charleston Museum

By Meagan Pickens

One item in the Charleston Museum’s storeroom that will give facial hair enthusiasts and lovers of quality material usage some satisfaction is the Wilkinson Sword Razor 7-day Empire Shaving Kit. While it may not seem like much, this shaving kit says a lot about the evolution of shaving history and the way that shaving is done today versus in previous generations. Beyond this, the shaving kit raises questions that it seems the razor industry battles to overcome all too often – is this just a gimmick? With a company history that is as brilliant as the case that the company chose to conceal this product in, you will want to stick around to read about this nearly century’s old artifact and maybe even come to Charleston to get to see the shaving kit in person.

Wilkinson Sword Company?

For those that are reading that are American, or at least not from the United Kingdom, you probably read the title and asked yourself – why on Earth is this shaving kit from a company known as Wilkinson Sword Company. The answer is both interesting and worthwhile.

Included Instructions

Included Instructions

Wilkinson Sword Company was originally founded in London in 1772 under a different name, by a man by the name of Henry Nock, who solely produced and sold guns. In 1805, upon Nock’s death, a man by the name of Wilkinson inherited it, and worked with his son. It was at some point around this time that the company began producing swords, as well – giving the company its’ namesake, which it officially started going by in 1879, after they expanded from a shop in London to a bigger premises in Chelsea. [1] In the 1890’s the company expanded their product range, which besides things like motorcycles was the point at which razors came to be a part of the company’s goods.[2]

With the turn of the century came the American Patent of the safety blade, a contribution that King Camp Gillette – another prominent razor maker is credited with.[3] Even with this accreditation Wilkinson Sword Company still lists their first “Pall Mall Safety Razor” as being debuted to customers in 1898, and their razors became known in the United Kingdom for this advance.[4] The 7-Day Empire Shaving Kit at the Charleston Museum boasts this feature, and is interesting because it is a fairly early model of this advance.

While Wilkinson Sword Company sold swords for many more years, the company’s main focus is now on their razors, of which they have all types. Today, their focus isn’t as much on safety razors, but on disposable razors – both for men and women.

Razor Case

Razor Case

About the Shaving Kit

The Shaving Kit at the Charleston Museum sports a chrome case that has a pattern that speaks specifically to the time of its production. In the first half of the twentieth century, the Art Deco style spoke to ideas about what it meant to be modern and what it meant to be chic. The case embodies both of these things with its sleek and shiny design.[5]

This beautiful Art Deco case is covered with blue velveteen material on the inside. Also inside are seven blades, each labeled with a day of the week, stored in a black plastic tray. The metal razor is also included, with a turning knob at the bottom of the handle. Besides this, a leather strop is included. With these items, two sets of instructions are included, one for using the razor itself and one for “stropping.”

 

Leather Strop

Leather Strop

What in the World is Stropping?

Stropping may seem like an elusive term to those that are not used to working long term with blades, be it knives or razors. First and foremost, stropping serves to align the edge of the blade and is done by swiping the edge on the piece of the leather. Stropping normally is done on the plain leather, however loading the leather with an abrasive compound such as diamond paste or chromium oxide powder will make a fine sharpener. Still, if too abrasive of a compound is being used on the strop, then it is not stropping (just realigning the edge), but removing the metal, which is sharpening. Here, one should note that while this procedure makes the edge of a blade feel sharper, it is not a procedure to actually sharpen the blade.[6]

Stropping is done in the opposite way of steeling, where the edge of the blade is dragged backwards, not pushed forward, although the intended result is the same. Stropping is also a very necessary and effective step after any sharpening because it removes weak very small pieces of metal, burr, straightens the edge making it more refined. Shaving enthusiasts and knife experts recommend stropping to extend the life of any blade.[7]

Wilkinson Sword Company Disposable Razor. http://www.premierexports.co.uk/2835-3300-thickbox/wilkinson-sword-extreme-comfort-3-blade-disposable-razors.jpg

Wilkinson Sword Company Disposable Razor.
http://www.premierexports.co.uk/2835-3300-thickbox/wilkinson-sword-extreme-comfort-3-blade-disposable-razors.jpg

A World of Gimmicks – Why This Shaving Kit is Only Sort of a Gimmick in the Shaving Industry

The most prominent question that most likely comes to mind when looking at this item is regarding the need for seven different razor blades for the seven days of the week. To a lot of people this might seem unnecessary, or even like a gimmick. The answer to this is complicated, since the question is much larger than whether this particular model is a gimmick or not.

Safety razors, in the world of shaving, are considered high quality items. They are often noted to be used by barbers, and enthusiasts really support the benefits of shaving with a safety razor.[8] Because the consumer only has to buy one blade or razor that can continuously be sharpened when dull, it is seen as more cost effective than the disposable razors that many men use today, which can become nearly useless after as few as just one shave.[9] So, when comparing the Empire 7-Day Model to the way that many men choose to shave today – it does not seem to be a gimmick.

Gillette Tuckaway Safety Razor C. 1920s http://www.razoremporium.com/1921-gillette-new-improved-tuckaway-safety-razor

Gillette Tuckaway Safety Razor C. 1920s
http://www.razoremporium.com/1921-gillette-new-improved-tuckaway-safety-razor

Still, there is a catch. Because the models of safety razors that are contemporary to the Empire 7-Day Model do not have seven blades, the question of the gimmick still lingers.[10] This appears to be one of the rare few models that presents itself in this way – making the seven blades seem like an advantage for men. But then you have seven blades to strop, which raises other questions. When would someone strop all seven of the blades – after use each day, or all seven on one day for the coming week? It is really advantageous to have seven blades, other than the fact that you have replacements for when one of the blades finally goes bad?

Because there is little information suggesting what would be the “correct” way to use and strop that many blades, it does begin to appear to be like a gimmick or at least a little too extravagant for its practical purpose. In the end, it seems that the real answer to this question is in the eye of the beholder. In this case, the best way to decide might be to see the product in person – which is very easy to do – by visiting the Charleston Museum and viewing the Wilkinson Sword Company 7-Day Empire Shaving Kit.

           

[1] “Collectibles and Memorabilia.” Wilkinson Sword 7 Day Safety Razor (Barber Shop) at A Time Remembered. 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.tias.com/10782/PictPage/1923011815.html.

[2] Cet, Mirco De. The Complete Encyclopedia of Classic Motorcycles. Edited by Quentin Daniel. Rebo International, 2005.

[3] “First Disposable Razor Blade (1901).” First Safety Razor Was Invented at Boston in 1901. 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.celebrateboston.com/first/safety-razor.htm.

[4] “Collectibles and Memorabilia.” Wilkinson Sword 7 Day Safety Razor (Barber Shop) at A Time Remembered. 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.tias.com/10782/PictPage/1923011815.html.

[5] “Museum Storeroom Card.” Charleston Museum. 360 Meeting Street, Charleston SC, 29403. November 19, 2015.

[6] “Knife Steeling And Stropping: What They Really Do.” Knife Steeling And Stropping: What They Really Do. September 1, 2011. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://zknives.com/knives/articles/wssteeling.shtml.

[7] Ibid.

[8] “Shave Like A Barber With The Double Edge (DE) Safety Razor.” The Men’s Room. September 24, 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.themensroom.com/grooming-tools/get-a-shave-like-a-barber/.

[9] “Safety Razors vs. Disposable Razors: How to Shave Like a True Gent.” Worthy and Spruce. 2014. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.worthyandspruce.com/blogs/all-things-spruce/52939845-safety-razors-vs-disposable-razors-how-to-shave-like-a-true-gent.

[10] “1921 Gillette New Improved Tuckaway Safety Razor.” Razor Emporium. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.razoremporium.com/1921-gillette-new-improved-tuckaway-safety-razor/.

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Wilkinson Empire 7-Day Razor Set, 1936-1952

harris1

Wilkinson Empire 7-Day Razor Set, 1936-1952 By Wilkinson Sword Co, Ltd. Made in London, Charleston Museum

By LaQuesha Harris

Wilkinson Sword Company originally manufactured swords in England for 100 years until 1898 they diversified into various innovative razors. One of the most successful brands was the Empire Razor Set series, which was introduced in 1930. The Empire Series featured the self-stropping. Each of these blades featured the familiar crossed swords logo. The Empire Series was manufactured until 1952.

harris3

1930-Wilkinson Sword Co. Empire Self-Stropping Model

harris2

 

The Empire type razor series still featured a removable wedge blade, but it was a smaller piece of steel with the same width as the earlier wedge blades.

harris4

1932- Wilkinson E10 Empire Set. Featured 6 blades and domed lid top

Empire sets were made in single blade form, two and three day’s sets, and also

in high end seven day sets. Each model maintained the rubber roller guard despite some bar guard models being produced later on. Wilkinson maintained the adjustment screw to vary the blade angle. The razors did not have the adjustment that titled the head in different angles to the handles.

harris5

1935-52 7- Wilkinson 7-day Empire Razor set

harris7

1950s- Wilkinson W12 Empire Razor

harris6

Resources

www.safetyrazor.net/wilkinson/wilkinsonl.htm

badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/258886-Re-Honing-Wilkinson-Empire-model-hollow-ground-safety-blades?p=3597371#post3597374

www.wordpoint.com/worthopedia/wilkinson-empire-model-day-razor-set-151706684

www.stropper.com/home/stropper_view_details.php?id=1099&shortname=Wilkinson%2014&page=1&category=&select1=Wilkinson&select2=&select3=&select4=&select5=&select6=0

www.razoremporium.com/Wilkinson-sword-co-empire-self-stropping-model-safety-razor-excellent

ebid.c3.amazonaws.com/upload_big/1/0/6/1270911370-7301-0.jpg

www.razoremporium.com/wilkinson-sword-co-empire-7-day-model-wedge-style-safety-razor-excellent/

theshavingroon.co.uk/community/index.php?threads/Wilkinson-sword-w-12.29832

www.rantyguide.com/forums/flea-market/16644164-1930-wilkinson-sword-empire-self-stroppingrazor

www.wilkinsonfcollection.com/wilkinsfcollection.com/Wilkinson_razors.html

www.schick.com/women-shaving-info/history-of-shaving

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Bendix Model 526MB

Screen Shot 2015-12-18 at 10.22.20 AMBy Nicholas Wiseman

This is not just any ordinary radio; this is the Bendix Model 526MB table radio meant for the modern consumer. This model was made after World War II had ended and all the GIs were making great use of the many benefits offered to the veterans. From buying a house in the suburb with a mortgage to buying a new car, vets and their families were intent on consumerism and spending their money. Almost all of the modern families during this time period had survived the Great Depression where they had little to no money to spend on frivolous items; now that there was what seemed like a surplus of spending money modern design was adapted into every aspect of life for the modern consumer.

This radio is made of sleek, modern Bakelite plastic and painted white with red dials to evoke a sense of futuristic space ship design. The Bendix logo on the front has a streamlined font that gives sense of speed pulling the logo forwards. This is mirrored by the words on either side of the “Bendix,” “Aviation Corporation.” Bendix was originally an engineering corporation that designed durable tires and brake pads for aircraft. Later the business moved into communication by securing contracts to make the two-way radios for the planes in World War II; this paved the way for the company’s successful radio division. After the War, Bendix moved into the civilian sector by continuing its radio production and even aiding NASA in creating radios that would span more than just a continent, but from the moon and back!

This radio and the company that made it played an integral role in the modern fashion of the late forties and early fifties as well as help to create the modern mass news sharing that we are accustomed to today. Without a cheaper alternative for the blossoming middle class to buy, it is possible that the spread of news across the internet, our smart phones and other modern radio devices would never have occurred.

Works Cited

http://www.bendixradiofoundation.com/documents/Home%20Radio_photos.pdf

http://www.tuberadioland.com/bendix526C_main.html

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bendix_526mb526_m.html

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed

Storeroom Stories: Plymouth Gin Bottle

Screen Shot 2015-12-18 at 10.11.25 AMBy Alexis Drapanas & Grace Tapert

The Coates & Cos Plymouth Gin glass bottle was donated to the Charleston Museum for its Material Culture Collection by Dr. F.G. Cain on December 3, 1970. Plymouth Gin was established by Coates & Cos in 1793 at Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, England and quickly rose to success around the world thanks to its popularity among the British Royal Navy, with over 1,000 cases a week being shipped to New York alone. The official trademark of Plymouth Gin today consists of a reprint of the Mayflower Ship to honor the Pilgrim Fathers who imbibed at the distillery to spend their last night before setting sail to found America. However, the label on the front of this bottle depicts Plymouth Gin’s former trademark: a jolly monk (who first made his appearance on the bottle in the 1870’s) with two medals either side of him, which were introduced on the label in 1884 for its achievement at the Prize Medal Health Exhibition. What is most interesting about the bottle, however, is a reward label on the back of it that states:

Screen Shot 2015-12-18 at 10.11.19 AM$100.00 Reward will be paid for the detection and conviction of any person, or persons, found refilling our bottles or putting up imitation goods in bottles similar to ours, and offering them for sale with intent to deceive the public.

These labels were most likely added to their bottles following Coates & Cos win in an 1880’s legal battle against another London distiller who began producing “Plymouth Gin.” The lawsuit resulted in Plymouth Gin becoming the only gin in the United Kingdom to have a Protected Geographical Indication within the European Union, meaning that the object of production in its entirety must be traditionally and at least fractionally manufactured within a precise location, and thus consist of particular resources. Since its establishment in 1793, Coates & Cos has continued to produce its Plymouth Gin in the same manner and location that it originated with over 150 years ago, making Black Friars Distillery the oldest British distillery still in use today as Plymouth Gin continues to be a consumer favorite looking for world renowned smooth gin.Screen Shot 2015-12-18 at 10.11.06 AM

Works Cited

Gin Foundry , 30 November 2015, http://www.ginfoundry.com.

Gin Time, The Site for Gin Lovers Everywhere, Geraldine Coates, 30 November 2015, http://www.gintime.com.

Plymouth GinWorld Renowned Smooth Gin, Plymouth Gin, 30 September 2015, http://www.plymouthgin.com

Posted in Connections | Tagged | Comments closed
Skip to toolbar