This box was catalogued and photographed by Angie Weir and the website entries were created by Barbara Prynn
Apart from a few rogue items, such as nail clippers, a corset bone, and a toilet roll in its packaging (!) the items in Box B6 can generally be classified as hair accessories for ladies.
Within this broader classification, the items occupy three categories: 1. brushes and combs; 2. home hairdressing; 3. hat pins (arguably a clothing accessory rather than hair)
Throughout history women have wanted to change or style their hair, for instance, to keep up with current fashion, to follow trends, to emulate film stars, or for myriad other personal reasons.
The home hairdressing items in this box reflect the time when the vast majority of people did not have their own personal hairdresser, or could afford to visit a ’salon’, but instead found ways to style their hair at home.
An example of this is the Butywave Wavesetter designed for home perming, something which is far less common now.
There are no items explicitly designed to make curly hair straight, but there are several for creating waves and curls on straight hair; most notably, several sets of curling tongs.
Metal tongs that could be heated and applied to hair for the purpose of curling it, were invented by Francois Marcel in the 1870s. These became famously popular for creating ‘Marcel’ waves in the 1920s and 1930s Jazz Age.
These items have probably survived and been kept by families out of interest, or as reminders of ‘those things that grandma used’. Although these exact items are no longer used today, when people regularly visit hair salons, the designs and ideas behind then can still be seen today, such as in electric styling tongs.
Items of particular interest
Item 008279: Kirby Grips
The pack, made of cardboard with see through plastic window on the front, contains 37 Kirby Grips. The wording on the front is ‘EVE Handipak Hair Grips 6d.’ and it features a retro design with a woman’s portrait. The wording on the back is ‘Ask for Goodman’s HANDIPAKS The original hairgrip window pack’ ‘Grips always tidy’, ‘Made in England by Goodman’
The name ‘Kirby grip’ comes from the English manufacturers Kirby, Beard and Co Ltd of Birmingham. This company produced hairpins similar to the later invented bobby pin, and their trademarked pin, the”Kirbigrip” became a popular term for this type of hair accessory in the UK.
The founder of what would become the Kirby Beard Company was William Cowther.He established the business in 1743. His son, Richard, succeeded his father and went into partnership with Robert Kirby. Mr Kirby was well connected and became the Sheriff of London in 1816. By 1820 two further partners George Beard and William Tovey joined the firm. Mr Tovey was responsible for regional sales.
While Kirby Grips are mainly used to just pin back the hair to keep it in place I can remember my mother twisting small sections of wet hair into little ‘pin wheels’ and securing them with Kirby Grips to create curls when dry. Never seemed very successful!
Items 008263 & 008275 & 008275: Curling tongs
Marcel Waves had an appearance similar to a finger wave – they were classic sculpted hair waves -never curls – created with heated curling tongs (or Marcel Irons) known for sleek S shaped ridges, famously popular in 1920s and 30s with bob cut. Often associated with the Jazz Age.
The Marcel Irons were named after the French hairstylist Francois Marcel who in 1872 invented the first heated curling iron using a metal rod heated over an open flame. Accounts do vary about the invention of the style!
Born Marcel Grateau he emigrated to The United States and changed his name to Francois Marcel. He was granted US patents for implements performing the technique entitled Curling Iron in 1905 and Hair Waving Iron, an electric version, in 1918.
Again, not entirely successful when tried at home. According to reports from mother and aunts -not hot enough and the waves dropped out very quickly, too hot and a nasty smell of burning hair filled the room!
Item 008299: The Butywave Wavesetter
Card from the packaging states “Perm Wave your hair at home” on one side and ‘he Butywave wavesetter, British Made, Manufactured under Licence by The Butywave Co. 10 Tachbrook Street, London SW1. English Patent no. 328215’ on the other.
An elasticated cap with 8 crosspieces and ribbons ties at either end is contained in a packet with instructions for use. Also leaflet describing other Butywave products. Blue rigid, curved plastic rod.
