Signs of a bygone era - Burma Shave

Burma (i/ˈbɜrmə/bur-mə), officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, commonly shortened toMyanmar (i/ˈmjɑːnˌmɑr/myahn-mar,[7]/ˈmaɪænmɑr/ or /ˈmjænmɑr/),[8][9][10][11] is a sovereign state inSoutheast Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand.

 

So if Burma Shave was a brushless cream that did not lather, why the brushes and lathering mugs?

 

Ah, I see they caved to pressure and lack of sales. The old "Our product is better than yours, but for those who don't agree we offer your product as well" ploy.

 

It has been a long time, but if I remember correctly, Burma Shave offered a full line of shaving products including both creams and soaps. I only used the soap.

 

Actually, the soap was not introduced until the Burma Shave name was bought by the American Safety Razor Co. in the late 90's. In the early days of the company they had ads making fun of Grandpa's old brush.

 

I had no idea. Thanks for the education. I had incorrectly assumed it was an older flagship product.

 

You have the chronology reversed. In 1997 the company added products to the Burma Shave line including a razor and other marketing items. That did not last very long.

When Burma Vita, the company that had Burma Shave as one of its products (they also had a line of razor blades the sold made for them by an outside company as well as other products including canned shaving cream and deodorant) was bought by Phillip Morris in 1968s. American Safety Razor (ASR), which included Personna, PAL, GEM and EverReady, was bought by Phillip Morris eight years earlier. The companies were consolidated in the late 1960s and early 1970s to place all traditional shaving products, including what we knew as the EverReady C40 brush as the Burma Shave brush, under the Burma Shave name. So that was a consolidation move to eliminate the EverReady name and associated costs to go with it. Later on the Burma Shave cream was eliminated due to slumping sales and following that the soap (which was made to help sell brushes) was eliminated as well. ASR is now owned by Energizer Schick.

Source: Personna / ASR company history

http://www.personna.com/personna/blades/corporate/history/P20/

The History of Personna American Safety Razor Company
2004 Revolutionary Personna Plus® Safety Scalpel system introduced.
This metal handled scalpel with disposable blades protects health care workers from accidental sticks and cuts (loading, passing and disposal).

2003 Speed 3® Triple Blade Disposable is introduced.
Speed 3® Triple Blade Disposable is introduced.

2002 The Comfort Touch® rubber grip disposable razor is introduced.
The long rubberized handle allows for a better grip and greater control.

2001 SmartEdge multi-task tool Introduced.
The smartest tool in the world opens, scrapes, cuts and trims.
With a revolutionary new Carbon Blue Blade.

1999 Tri-Flexxx®, a three blade cartridge is introduced.
In response to the new three blade systems being offered by competitors, American Safety Razor Company introduces Tri-Flexxx, a three blade cartridge designed to help Personna American Safety Razor Company remain competitive into the next millennium.

1997 Two new products introduced, Revlon joint production and American White Cross acquired.
Personna American Safety Razor Company introduces the MBC, Moving Blade Cartridge System. MBC, packaged under the name Acti-Flexx® is quickly added to the Personna® Line, and Lady Personna®. It is also used as a base for the revival of the Burma-Shave line. The long handled twin blade disposable razor is introduced. The success of Acti-Flexx® leads to joint production of a women's product for Revlon. This new venture is dubbed the Revlon Perfect Finish Shaving System. Personna American Safety Razor Company acquires American White Cross and adds substantial volume to its cotton sales, solidifying its role as the leading store brand personal care cotton product supplier.

1996 American Safety Razor increases its reach into the international market.
Personna American Safety Razor Company purchases Bond in Israel to increase its reach into the international market with established distribution channels.
With the acquisition of Bond, the reach of Personna American Safety Razor Company is expanded to include the growing Latin American and Asian markets.

1994 Megas Beauty Care acquired.
1994 - Personna American Safety Razor Company acquires Megas Beauty Care to supplement its "personal care" product line.

1995 ACCO (Absorbent Cotton Corporation) acquired.
Personna American Safety Razor Company acquires ACCO (Absorbent Cotton Corporation) to complement and complete the existing cotton line offered by Megas.

1993 American Safety Razor completes a $60 million IPO.
Personna American Safety Razor Company becomes a publicly-traded company with a $60 million IPO.

1982 American Safety Razor introduces a single blade disposable shaving system.
Personna American Safety Razor Company introduces a single blade disposable shaving system.

1980 Shower Shaver Twin Blade Disposables for women are introduced.
Shower Shaver Twin Blade Disposables for women are introduced.

1981 BumpFighter is introduced, Hewitt Soap Company acquired.
BumpFighter's anti-shaving BumpFighter blade is specifically designed for the tight curls of hair which cause razor bumps in African American males.
Personna American Safety Razor Company aquires the Hewitt Soap Company which manufactures premium-quality custom bar soaps under retailers private brand names for cosmetic/skin care, pharmaceutical and department store markets.

1976 Single II and Auto II, twin blade shaving cartridge systems, are introduced.
Single II and Auto II, twin blade shaving cartridge systems, are introduced.

1977 American Safety Razor executives purchase American Safety Razor from Philip Morris.
Nine Personna American Safety Razor Company executives purchase Personna American Safety Razor Company from Philip Morris in a management buyout.

1974 American Line Brand of industrial products is introduced.
American Line soon grows to over 100 products encompassing a wide variety of blades and companion tools.

1973 Personna® Double II disposable cartridge introduced.
Personna® Double II, two bonded blades on both sides contained in a disposable cartridge, is introduced.

1971 Flicker is introduced as the world’s first disposable razor made exclusively for women.
With a unique wire-wrapped blade, Flicker becomes the leading women's razor on the market.

1970 Personna® 74 and Personna® Injector are introduced.
Made with tungsten steel, these new blades are extensively tested and proves to be the sharpest, longest lasting blades made.

1969 Face Guard® introduced, first guarded blade ever marketed in the United States.
Personna Face Guard®, the first guarded blade ever marketed in the United States, is introduced.

1968 Burma-Vita Company, makers of Burma-Shave, is purchased.
Philip Morris, Personna American Safety Razor Company's parent company, purchases the Burma-Vita Company, makers of the American cultural icon product Burma-Shave.

1963 American Safety Razor is the first maker of stainless steel blades.
Originally sold under the Personna brand name, the new technology is quickly applied to all of Personna American Safety Razor Company's product lines.

1960 Philip Morris Incorporated acquires American Safety Razor.
Philip Morris Incorporated, seeking diversification, acquires Personna American Safety Razor Company.
Philip Morris devotes its substantial finances and resources to the research and development of new blade technology.

1959 Annual sales figures from 1954 almost double.
Personna American Safety Razor Company has now grown so quickly that it almost doubles its annual sales figures from 1954.

1956 Supreme Products Corporation of Chicago acquired.
Personna American Safety Razor Company acquires an industrial machine manufacturer, the Supreme Products Corporation of Chicago.

1954 J.B. de Mesquita retires and Sidney Weil takes control of American Safety Razor.
Under Weil's leadership the company is moved from New York to "Razor Blade Lane" in Verona, Virginia.

1953 American Safety Razor purchases the Pal Blade Company.
Personna American Safety Razor Company acquires the Pal® and Personna® brand names.
Pal® and Personna® products continue to be made today.

1949 American Safety Razor’s Board of Directors elects J.B. de Mesquita president.
American Safety Razor's Board of Directors elects J.B. de Mesquita president.

1942 American Safety Razor introduces its first Double Edge Blade.
Product launched while America is deep into its war with Nazi Germany.
Like true patriots, Personna American Safety Razor Company does its part by complying to a recommendation of the War Production Board to cut production of blades by 40% and to stop the production of razors entirely.
It is estimated that this act alone frees up to 1,550 tons of steel annually for military use. Personna American Safety Razor Company also transfers most of its machinery to the production of 20 mm shell casings, magazines, munitions and various parts for airplane motors.

1936 American Safety Razor builds its first plant in England.
Personna American Safety Razor Company builds its first plant in England.

1935 American Safety Razor expands its product lines to include industrial and surgical blades.
Personna American Safety Razor Company expands its product lines to include industrial and surgical blades.

1928 Star Razor Company founder passes control of American Safety Razor.
Joseph Kampfe, founder of the Star Razor Company passes control of Personna American Safety Razor Company to Milton Dammann.

1925 The country is introduced to a curious little highway amusement - the first Burma-Shave sign.
Over the next 36 years America is kept chuckling at the funny rhymes that promote clean shaves and honest living one mile at a time.

1919 Gem, Star and Ever-Ready are joined under one banner, the American Safety Razor Corporation.
The new company is chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Razor and blade production remains in Brooklyn, New York.

1915 Ever-Ready Shaving Brushes are introduced.
The line grows to include a wide variety of styles and sizes.
The top of the line being a pure badger brush that sells with a 24 karat gold-plated razor and five Ever-Ready blades for the exorbitant price of $1.29.

1908 American Safety Razor Company establishes its first subsidiary in England.
Personna American Safety Razor Company establishes its first subsidiary in England.

1906 Gem Safety Razor Company and Ever-Ready merge.
Ever-Ready is incorporated as the Personna American Safety Razor Company.

1905 The Yankee Company changes its name to Ever-Ready.
The Yankee Company changes its name to Ever-Ready.

1903 Gem Safety Razor Company founder leaves to create The Yankee Company.
Jerry Reichard leaves Gem Safety Razor Company to form yet another razor and blade producer, The Yankee Company.

1900 Gem Cutlery Company changes name to The Gem Safety Razor Company.
The turn of the century brings new competition and a new name for the Gem Cutlery Company - The Gem Safety Razor Company.

1898 Gem Cutlery Company created.
Jerry Reichard, after working for the Kampfe Brothers for 23 years, leaves to start his own company - the Gem Cutlery Company.
Its first product, the Gem Safety Razor, borrows heavily from the Star Razor in design but soon outpaces the Star and becomes one of the world's most famous razor and blades ever made.

1875 The Star Razor is introduced.
The Kampfe brothers introduce the Star Razor, the first safety razor made in the United States.
The Star Razor's revolutionary design wins national and international awards for design and craftsmanship.


Edit: Note that the reference site has been changes so this older version will aid in research.

 

I guess bought was a bad choice of words. I knew Phillip Morris had acquired the Burma-vita company but thought the A. R. switch was another buyout. I didn't realize that Phillip Morris owned them too. I just always thought it was sad that Burma Shave had put all that effort and advertisement into a brushless product only to be branded late in life with the very things they had tried to distance themselves from. Anyway I didn't want my posted attempt at irony to seem mean spirited or condescending toward Burma Shave. Even though I was a little too young to remember the signs on the road I still have a fondness for the part it played in American culture and even have a Burma Shave sign hanging in my shave den. Or did anyway I'm in the process of cleaning and painting and haven't re-hung it yet.

 

I did not see that in a mean sprited light to Burma Shave at all. Finally Personna ASR listed a nice concise history instead of having everyone have to rely upon multiple books or memory to keep it all straight.

 

You certainly don't want to rely on my memory. Well done.

 

Note this reference from Personna is up for real debate (not really):

1963 American Safety Razor is the first maker of stainless steel blades.
Originally sold under the Personna brand name, the new technology is quickly applied to all of Personna American Safety Razor Company's product lines.

This is from Schick: http://www.schick.com/us/shaving-history.shtml

In 1963, Schick became the first U.S. manufacturer to sell stainless steel blades coated with Teflon. This non-stick material improved comfort by reducing friction during the shave. Five years later, Schick pioneered another innovation when scientists succeeded in depositing a thin layer of chromium to the blade edge, making it more durable. After the acquisition of Schick by Warner-Lambert in 1970, steady technical progress moved forward as it had in the past.

But in reality Gillette made the first stainless steel DE razor blades back in 1928 with the "Kroman" blade which was a stainless steel blade using Chromium and Magnesium alloys. The blades were pulled off the market in 1932 due to major problems with the steel alloy (brittle).

Source: International High-technology Competition By Frederic M. Scherer Page 49.

http://books.google.com/books?id=2T...st stainless steel double edge blades&f=false

 

Here is a site with other Personna products.

http://personnablades.com/home.aspx

 

Wow a whole case contains 5000 blades . Talk about a stockpile.

 

Shaving brushes / You'll soon see 'em / On the shelf / In some / Museum / Burma-Shave

 

Signs by the road
they can't survive
when people prefer
to text and drive.

b.s.

 

Hope you enjoyed those
Killian's Red
there's a
drunk checkpoint
just up ahead.

b.s.

 

Here is a Burma Shave ad with a more modern "1960s" twist ...

https://archive.org/details/dmbb06641

 

Time sure does fly
fast as a laser
just yesterday
we were shavin'
with a multiblade razor.

b.s.

 

Hey, that commercial just answered a question I've always had -- who made one of my all time fav a/s, Burma Bey! They did! Cool!!!

(not my pic, just borrowing it)