Finally got out to Alcatraz for a tour of that amazing piece of history and noticed some cool old shaving gear on a few stops. In the communal shower--behind a large, caged-in area--was a table with several vintage brushes and tins of tooth powder. Don't know if any of those pieces were actually used by prisoners. Some of the brushes were newer, cheap-o beauty supply store models. A few of the cells were dressed up with personal items on the shelves, one of which featured a Gillette adjustable. I originally thought it was a Fatboy, but it looks like it might actually be a Slim. Shame to have it locked up like that and out of circulation. Although, if some murderer or rapist actually used that thing, no thanks. One thing that I wanted to know (I guess I need to do some Googling) is how these hardened prisoners were able to shave. The tour said they were awarded a change of clothes and a shower only once a week, so a shave would be a luxury, at best, but how did it happen? How did these guys, the baddest of the bad, get surgical sharp cutting instruments in their hands at any time? The metal prisoner drinking cup on the shelf in the cell was too much to pass up as I exited through the gift shop. I told my girlfriend, "I'M GETTING THIS BECAUSE MY LIFE IS A PRISON." I raised my voice nice and loud in the shop to get as many people as possible to look and see me holding the cup up to her face. I must say, the cavity search she administered back at the house was an unexpected and unfortunate consequence. Lesson learnt.
Those razors might be period correct, but I doubt that a prisoner would ever actually get to use one. Much more likely is the Gillette psycho which locked the blade in place. Only the guards or other sort of supervisor would have the key to change the blade. (edit for phone typos and to post pic.) (image of a UK version borrowed from the internet)
Yeah, I was going to say the same. I think at a max security place like Alcatraz, psycho's would be the way they'd go.
Alctraz opened as a military prison around 1912, became a federal prison in 1934 and closed in 1963. That Psycho Tech says 1958, so it was introduced only 5 years before Alcatraz closed. Were there older locking safety razors?
Gillette didn't actually innovate the Psycho. They ripped it off. I know Grafco in Germany had one way before, maybe going back to the 20's, but don't quote me on that. I'm betting there were others too.
Pre-pscho razor days, I wonder if prisoners and/or mental patients would have been shaved by a barber which would still be safer than giving someone a blade they could access easily.
I was thinking this had to be the routine for some amount of time. Straight razors early on, eventually replaced by safety razors?
