First U.S. safety razor patentIn 1880, the first U.S. patent for a safety razor was issued to brothers Frederick and Otto Kampfe of New York, who made and sold their invention (No. 228,904). Their patent described their razor to be “simple and durable in construction, of small first cost, compact in form, and adapted to be used without soiling the fingers of the user.” The design was a“hollow metallic blade holder with... handle and a flat plate..., to which the blade is attached by clips and a pivoted catch, said plate having bars or teeth at its lower edge.” Its lower plate was formed to be a receptacle for the hair and soap removed during the shaving operation. The blade was removeable and would be put in a separate holder to enable sharpening as needed. Two decades later, King Camp Gillette invented the disposable safety razor blade.« |
