Gillete in the 1920s

[Jake]

A couple ads from the early era of Mad Men. The advertising industry was led by the tobacco companies, where in the early years more was spent on advertising than on total sales. How much Gillette spent to launch these razors is hard to know now, but it was considerably more than what people are spending now to sell these same classic razors -- 80-some years later.

I know that these may have been posted already, but it takes very little space and is enjoyable each time they are viewed and reviewed.

 

[persco]

Cool. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Luc]

Great ads, nice!

 

[duotone]

the r/h one is my new desktop pic, thanks!

 

[ctakim]

Very nice. I would love to get one of those deluxe traveler sets!

 

[Darjeeling Express]

I'm delighted you posted these. Many thanks. (Went right into "favorites")

 

[mmack66]

Great ads. $75.00 for that Deluxe set. Wow.

 

[Pureslab]

Very cool .

 

[VolpeVerde]

I really enjoy small bits of Americana such as these. Thanks for posting them.

 

[Stubblefield]

Thank you for posting these, Jake. I find it interesting that advertising played such a big role in moving merchandise, even back then.

Is it just me, or is it odd that what Gillette called the "new improved" we now call the "old?"

 

[mmack66]

Is it just me, or is it odd that what Gillette called the "new improved" we now call the "old?"

We do?

 

[thirdeye]

Great ad, thanks for sharing it with us....

 

[Shave Cat]

We do?

Well, actually, when Gillette brought out the "New Improved", they initially continued to make their previous model, which they began to call the "Old Type". The next series of razors they brought out were dubbed the "New Razor". It's kinda funny that the "New Improved" came out before the "New".

-Clarke

 

[Henrique]

Very nice! thank you!

 

[Merlin]

$75.00 in the 20s???
that must have been a small fortune back then, no?

 

[Audiolab]

I think it must have been a lot of money back then. I love reading these old ads and sometimes am tempted to buy a old ad and frame it.

Woot 100 posts. I know some of you can do this in a day but I am a slow poster....

 

[mmack66]

$75.00 in the 20s???
that must have been a small fortune back then, no?

About $850. Not insignificant.

 

[Oldguy]

Thanks for posting the ads Jake. I'm sure after seeing these ads when they first came out you wanted to run out and buy one, if you could afford it or not. I think these are some of the nicest razors Gillette made. I would love to own one of each. Unfortunately I own none. But I'm working on it.

Len

 

[Jake]

As my friend and I discover additional archives of classic Gillette lore and literature, we'll share snippets and samples for your enjoyment. Just have to scale the images so they fit in these postings. This advertisement is from 1920.

 

[Henrique]

I think it must have been a lot of money back then. I love reading these old ads and sometimes am tempted to buy a old ad and frame it.

They can be bought rather inexpensively on e-bay. And they do look great.