Lady Sunbeam Shavemaster Electric Shaver (b) in tan vinyl rectangular case (a) with gold-coloured metal edges with the hinged lid and bottom meet; the inside of the case is lined with green fabric over a frame moulded to fit the shaver and accompanying pieces, the inside of the lid is lined with wh…
Lady Sunbeam Shavemaster Electric Shaver (b) in tan vinyl rectangular case (a) with gold-coloured metal edges with the hinged lid and bottom meet; the inside of the case is lined with green fabric over a frame moulded to fit the shaver and accompanying pieces, the inside of the lid is lined with white fabric and "Lady Sunbeam" is printed in the centre in gold print; the shaver (b) is slightly trapezoidal in shape, and rounded near the bottom where there is a hole for the cream cord (c) to plug into; the shaver is mainly made of pink plastic, with a metal comb end cut differently on each side; on the legs side of the shaver, the middle of the shaver is clear plastic over a white plastic design of curly lines, and in the centre of this is a gold line design over a small lightbulb; in the case with the shaver are the rubber cord wrapped in a pink elastic (d), a small cleaning brush (e) with a metal stem and tan bristles, arranged on one end like a paint brush and on the other end like a toilet brush; there is also an instruction booklet (f) which details how to properly use and clean the shaver; it is printed in white, black, grey, and pink ink and contains illustrations; one end of the booklet is French and the other is in English, and they meet in the middle of the booklet.
Number Of Parts
6
Part Names
a - case: Length 14.2 cm X Width 11.2 cm X Height 4.1 cm
b - shaver: Length 7.7 cm X Width 6.8 cm X Height 3.1 cm
c - cord (when coiled): Length 10.3 cm X Width 3.5 cm X Height 3.3 cm
d - elastic: Height 1.5 cm X Diameter 3.5 cm
e - brush: Length 8.3 cm X Width 1.2 cm X Height 0.5 cm
Printed on inside of case (a): "Lady Sunbeam"; engraved on shaver (b): "FOR LEGS // FOR UNDERARMS"; raised on shaver: "Lady Sunbeam // MODEL LS5-1 110-120 V 5W // AC ONLY 60 CYCLES // PATENTED // UL // LISTED 422A // .08 AMPS LR-28688 CSA // MX"; embossed on cord (c): "SCHICK"; printed on booklet (f), cover: "Lady Sunbeam // SHAVEMASTER // ELECTRIC SHAVER // built-in light gives added // convenience and // comfort in // grooming // FOR LEGS // See inside for // suggestions on how // to obtain the best possible // results from your Lady Sunbeam"; printed on inside pages of booklet: "only the // Lady Sunbeam // SHAVEMASTER // ELECTRIC SHAVER // has the exclusive MICRO-TWIN HEAD // Now, you have the convenience and comfort of // an exclusive built-in light which affords the // ultimate in modern grooming ease. // And you'll enjoy new freedom from nicks, // cuts, and razor burns this safe, gentle, electric // way. // The Lady Sunbeam has a shaving head with // one edge especially ground to shave the legs, // and the other edge especially ground for under- // arm use. It is small as a "compact" and ends // muss and fuss, nicks and cuts of soap and // blade. The Lady Sunbeam's gentle, sure per- // formance gives you a new easy way to keep // neat, fresh and dainty. Wonderful at home, or // for traveling."; page 2: "this side for close, // clean leg shaving // this side for // underarm shaving // For use on 110-120 volt 60 cycle alternating current (A.C. only)"; page 3: "how to use // For best results hold the // Lady Sunbeam at an angle // with comb teeth flat // against the skin as shown. // Move the shaver against // the grain. Use short // strokes and apply only // light pressure. Pressing // too hard prevents hairs // from entering the shaver. // Completely shave one // small area at a time. // SKIN SURFACE // CORRECT // SKIN SURFACE // INCORRECT"; page 4: "your Lady Sunbeam // FOR LEGS // Make sure the skin is // clean and perfectly dry. // Move the shaver slowly, // at an angle as shown. // Shave with light short // strokes. Shave a small // area at a time. DO NOT // PRESS. // FOR UNDERARMS // It is recommended you // trim very long underarm // hair before shaving with // the Lady Sunbeam. In hot // weather you may wish to // use dusting powder before // shaving. If you do use // powder, you should clean // the shaver more frequently // as explained on page 7."; page 5/6: "care of your lady sunbeam shavemaster // FOR LEGS // FOR LEGS // removing // the comb // guard // Remove the plastic comb guard as // shown. Replace this guard after each // use to protect the comb. // attaching // the cord // When you attach the cord after plug- // ging in, the Lady Sunbeam will start // automatically, and the light will go // on. The special plug fits into place // easily. For use on 110-120 volt 60 // cycle alternating current—AC only. // cleaning // After each use, blow on the shaving // comb to remove loose hair. Use the // brush to clean comb teeth. Occasion- // ally, clean the head thoroughly. To // do this, lift the comb from shaver // with thumb and forefinger. Allow // cutter blade to slide out of the comb // and clean comb and cutter with the // small brush."; page 7/8: "important! to re-assemble, follow instructions closely // CUTTER CAN BE INSERTED IN COMB // FROM ONE SIDE ONLY // CUTTER // COMB // IF HEAD WILL // NOT LOCK // INTO SHAVER // REVERSE ENDS // re-assemble comb and cutter // After cleaning the head, re-insert the cutter // completely in the comb. The cutter can be // inserted in the comb only from one end. Do not // force the cutter in the comb. If you find obstruc- // tion, reverse cutter. // placing comb and cutter // in shaver // Replace the head in the shaver and apply pressure // at both ends of the head, so that it locks into // position. If the head will not easily lock into // place it is in the wrong position and should be // reversed. Be careful not to apply excessive // pressure on the head when it is in the wrong // position, as you will damage the shaver. Oiling // the Lady Sunbeam is unnecessary. // Should your light burn out, it can be replaced // at your nearest Sunbeam Service Station."; page 9: "guarantee // Upon receipt of the guarantee registration // card packed with this appliance your Lady // Sunbeam Shavemaster Shaver is guaranteed // for one (1) year against electrical and me- // chanical defects in material and workman- // ship, which will be repaired or parts replaced // free of charge during this period. The guar- // antee does not cover damage caused by mis- // use, negligence, or use on current or voltage // other than that stamped on the appliance. // This guarantee is in lieu of any other war- // ranty either expressed or implied. If service // is required, send the appliance prepaid to // the nearest Sunbeam Appliance Service // Company branch shown on the enclosed list. // Please write a letter explaining the nature of // your difficulty. // Sunbeam CORPORATION (CANADA) LIMITED // 220 Islington Avenue South, Toronto 18, Canada // ® Sunbeam, Lady Sunbeam, Micro-Twin // Printed in Canada Design Patent D-176,406 Form No. 153-0951".
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E5-4
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Minor discolouration and staining on outside of case; the small end of the cord contains a green substance; the brush is slightly bent, the shaver blade is a bit rusty on the legs side.
Life Mangazine, 28 Nov 1960, 120 pages, Vol. 49, No. 22, ISSN 0024-3019, page 112: https://books.google.ca/books?id=0U0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22lady+sunbeam+shavemaster%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s
United States Patent Office, Des. 176,406, Patented Dec. 20, 1955, Electric Shaver:https://patents.google.com/patent/USD176406S/en?oq=d176%2c406
"The Unusual and Deeply Sexist History of Women Removing Their Body Hair", Mic.com, by Rachel Lubit, August 12, 2016: https://www.mic.com/articles/151191/the-unusual-and-deeply-sexist-history-of-women-removing-their-body-hair
"The History of Female Hair Removal", Women's Museum of California, Nov. 22, 2017: https://womensmuseum.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/the-history-of-female-hair-removal/
"It Started With Harper’s Bazaar…" Outskirts of the Twenties, January 5, 2014: https://outskirtsofthetwenties.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/it-started-with-harpers-bazaar/
"How Shaving Works" by Marshall Brain, Howstuffworks, June 26, 2006: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/men/shaving-tips/shaving1.htm
"Hair Trimmer Comb: Barber-ism Begins At Home", by bohus, October 7th, 2010: https://www.retrothing.com/2010/10/hair-trimmer-comb-barber-ism-begins-at-home.html
Research Facts
In the Annual Consumer Bulliten for 1963-1964, the Lady Sunbeam Shavemaster was said to have cost $12.95, and given "average performance", and was "quiet, but some vibration".
Patented in 1955 by Robert O. Ernest and Ivar Jepson for the Sunbeam Corporation.
Gillette released the first "safety razor" in 1901 and advertised it heavily. Shaving became inexpensive and easier for men to do more often. In World War One, soldiers were required to shave their faces in order to fit into gas masks. Returning soldiers and advertising from companies like Gillette made being clean shaven fashionable for men, Beards were then unfashionable until the 1960s, and it remains in fashion for men to be clean shaven.
In Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, hair removal was common for both men and women, as it was considered clean and beautiful. They used tweezers, waxes, and pumice stones.
In the Elizabethan Era in Europe, England's Queen Elizabeth I set the trend of women shaping their eyebrows and removing moustaches, as well as removing the hair about the forehead so one's face appreared longer.
In 1915, an ad in the magazine Harper's Bazaar and Gillette's creation of the Milady Décolleté were among the things which urged women to be rid of hair under their arms, and as hemlines rose in the 1940s and 50s, women began shaving their legs in larger numbers and more regularly, a standard which persists to this day.