Service sets

[David57]

I picked up a u.s. service set. Sorry no camera.

Its a silver box with a large eagle with a shield on its chest.
engineer symbol on left side, navy on right

Serial no. E703880

When did these become issued?
what other countries had service set?
when did u.s. start a clean shave policy?
when did boot camp start with the sheep getting sheared?
when did g.i.s get flush toilets and hot water to shave with?

 

[jamesspo]

Shavewiki is your friend:

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

From the dating chart, that set would be from 1918, so a WW1 set....or at least made during WW1.

 

[David57]

Shavewiki is your friend:

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

From the dating chart, that set would be from 1918, so a WW1 set....or at least made during WW1.

Thanks

 

[MacDaddy]

The sets were made for sale during the U.S. involvement in WWI. Here's a great article from the Sept. 27, 1917 issue of Printers' Ink that describes the story behind their development and the advertising campaign Gillette rolled out around them. In short, the story is that sometime around 1916 a Capt. McCarthy, who worked on the Gillette sales staff, was called up to the Mexican border with his regiment, and when he returned he described the need for a better shaving kit. (Whether that's entirely accurate or somewhat apocryphal, who's to say?)

In addition to the metal cased set, like the one you have, there were hard and soft Khaki Sets, a soft roll Navy Set, and a larger khaki-covered combination set called the Military Set, which came with a Bulldog razor:

According to the copy in earlier ads the soldiers and sailors shipping out were required to bring their own shaving kit, and were required to be clean shaven. (See the example below, and click through to view it larger.) Later on, though, Gillette cut a deal with the Army to sell them sets for distribution to the troops. These sets are marked "PROPERTY U.S. ARMY" so I presume they were issued rather than sold to the soldiers. I don't believe that these metal cased sets were ever under that contract, though.



Gillette Canada also sold a service set during WWI:

 

[elmerwood]

Two forms of Americana history right here.

 

[wagstaff]

So how are these to shave with? I bought one online (here) as a first OC. Civvy issue.

 

[Chester]

So how are these to shave with? I bought one online (here) as a first OC. Civvy issue.

Just like any other old-type, really.
The bulldog in the military set is a little more aggressive, in my opinion, bit it may be just the weight in the handle ... or perhaps my imagination!
-- Chet

 

[wagstaff]

It'll be my first old-type, too. Thanks... I'll soon see what those are like.

 

[Leopold Bloom]

I love the Khaki set, always mean to buy them when they come up on ebay.

 

[wagstaff]

Hmmm. Waiting for one, now. I love the Joyce novel. Always mean to re-read that one when (now) I'm not in school any more.

 

[ia_james]

The heraldry on the case is interesting. It appears to combine a little of everything, excepting something obviously from the Marines. The sabre crossed with the rifle is an obvious mix of cavalry and infantry. Engineers are represented by the castle looking thingy over the sabre and rifle, obviously. The naval bit appears to combine naval aviation (minus the propeller?) with Neptune's trident.

 

[David57]

Just cut two shims to put under the new Derby blade.

Great shave.

BOTOC users will feel right at home with this razor.


I rate it excellent.

 

[RichieRich3902]

THose service sets are neat finds, I love that most of them have either a name or monogram engraved on the case lid.

 

[David57]

So what war hero should get his name engraved?

Bob Hope loves Phillis Diller.

Anyone remember the pin up girls on the nose of the bombers?

Landing strip.

Elsie

 

[Snargle]

I picked up a u.s. service set. Sorry no camera.

Its a silver box with a large eagle with a shield on its chest.
engineer symbol on left side, navy on right

Serial no. E703880

When did these become issued?
what other countries had service set?
when did u.s. start a clean shave policy?
when did boot camp start with the sheep getting sheared?
when did g.i.s get flush toilets and hot water to shave with?

The clean-shaven policy was a product of WW I trench warfare, where poison gases were used (e.g. mustard gas, chlorine, phosgene, etc.). For a gas mask to fit properly and not leak, the user needed to be clean-shaven. Failure to properly shave could have deadly consequences.