Saturday, October 9, 2010

13 Wildly Irresponsible Vintage Ads Aimed at Kids: #3. Gillette Safety Razor


There are two possible messages from this 1905 ad for a Gillette Safety Razor. The first is that nothing quite says "safe thing for your baby to play with" like a stick with open blades at the end.
Or you could make the fairly logical assumption that in the early 20th century, it was considered a crippling birth defect if you didn't have a thick, full beard at three months. Thus, prior to the invention of the Gillette Safety Razor, parents would have to shave the baby with a straight razor, and this product finally made it safe for the infant to shave himself.

42 comments:

  1. Thank god, I've been dying waiting for the day my baby could finally shave himself.

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  2. safety first i guess.... who gave the child a razor!

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  3. I use an electric one, so much faster and easier.

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  4. haha, so safe! =)

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  5. this post made me open my eyes and stop squinting!!!

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  6. when i was a child I just used a KNIFE.

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  7. LOL it's so safe even your baby can play with it!!
    following~

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  8. Is, is... is that baby Santa Clause?!

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  9. Razor get out of that babys hand! u look rediculess, babies dont even grow beard!

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  10. What were these ad execs thinking?

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  11. Oh man...that razor is sexy. Look at those ergonomics! Look at the factor! That puts any of this aerospace-designed razor bullshit to SHAME.

    *Snorts* Joking, of course, but that was an interesting ad--for an interesting time, I suppose. It's all SUBLIMINAL now, anyways.

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  12. Cigarettes, razors, what are they advertising now!!!

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  13. you've got a great point on this one

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  14. Safety razor? I hope that kid doesn't have a neck-beard.

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  15. I used to shave when I was 6 months old

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  16. Lol babies don't even need to shave.

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  17. o.o never seen that before

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  18. totally love this blog man. great pic!

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  19. the way he's so happy with the razor creeps me out

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  20. id still somehow cut myself with one of these with my luck

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  21. I love these vintage ads

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  22. awesome post, bro! waiting for MOAR

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  23. Safety razor? Haha well as long as the toddler doesn't cut himself shaving...

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  24. Well they are 'safety' razors...right?

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  25. Remember baby, up down not side side...

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  26. What were those people thinking? I guess those 3 month olds must've really had full beards.

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  27. little emo kid in making, enjoying that blade too much

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  28. I like the "begin early" at the top left. I'm sure the tobacco ads at the time were just as innocent!

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  29. I plan to teach my son to shave at 2.

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  30. something seems wrong with his pointer finger o_O

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