When the Early Hairdryers Looked Like Crazy Robots, 1910-1930
In 1890 the first hairdryer was invented by French stylist Alexander Godefroy.
Blow dryers were invented in the late 19th century. The first model was created by Alexander F. “Beau” Godefroy in his salon in France in 1890.
His invention was a large, seated version that consisted of a bonnet that attached to the chimney pipe of a gas stove.
Godefoy invented it for use in his hair salon in France, and it was not portable or handheld. It could only be used by having the person sit underneath it.
Around 1915, hairdryers began to go on the market in handheld form. This was due to innovations by National Stamping and Electricworks under the white cross-brand, and later U.S. Racine Universal Motor Company and the Hamilton Beach Co., which allowed the dryer to be small enough to be held by hand…
Article continues:
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/vintage-hairdryers-history-1910-1930/
Why does this make me think of this
Nice find! Would also fit in !historyphotos@piefed.social
Yeah, I was going to post there, then remembered this place, which I’ve never posted to, before. Felt encouraged that there was a “modern antiques” tag…
Btw, one thing I forgot to include from the article is that evidently, some of these early models had the problem of electrocuting people!
Just a minor issue, no big deal
It doesn’t belong?
No, I mean the electrocution XD
Pope Joan.
The article mentioned that these things typically drew very low wattages, so took a while to be effective. It seems that everyone had their idea about which design to use to most efficiently dry hair, and this was the Catholic entry, evidently.
Reminds me of hair dryers in soviet time swimming pools. Not bare metal but this bucket thingy too.
That bucket design was super-common in the States for many years, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was common around the world, too.
Yeah that was the default in hair stylists in Ireland in the early 80s also.
I love this and couldn’t figure out why at first, but then I remembered it’s the Gilliam’s Brazil vibes.
Oh shit, we really need to talk about that film more!!
(Also, thank you kindly for contributing and creating so much, here upon the Fediverse. I’m a little tadpole that hopefully follows in your footsteps…)
If I get started talking about Brazil, I might never stop. Ha!
YW. And you’re doing fine here, look at all these comments, great conversation. 🗨️💬🗨️
I mean… part of why I ‘know I’m doing fine’ is because I’ve been successfully running a beloved community here for ~2.5yrs, so there’s that! :D
In any case, let’s talk about “Brasil!” (1985, Gilliam)
Where would be the best place to discuss…?
Wild. I was actually just wondering about these chairs. Got my hair cut this afternoon and got to thinking about those chairs you see in like 70s movies. Wonder if they’re still a thing.
They sure are, in the street I work there is a hair-salon/make-up place and they have units similar to this one:
Oh, please. It’s the NOZZLE.
There to distract you from the alien probes embedded in the seats.
Those hairs are going to be lean. Looks like a sculling machine…
His invention was a large, seated version that consisted of a bonnet that attached to the chimney pipe of a gas stove.
Yeah gimme that “carbon monoxide poisoning” look
Exactly. But I presume that (been a long time since I took college chemistry), it was moreso a different issue.
For example-- look at how early peoples’ constructed their huts, with the hole in the top-center position…
See what I’m saying, there…?
