Electric brush - what was it for? - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

tedzed1 · 28th Aug 2011, 5:10 pm

Who would have believed it, a hairbrush for bald people

Darren-UK · 28th Aug 2011, 7:37 pm

It might be in one of those links in #7, I forget now, but I've read somewhere that these brushes were good for removing dandruff. Perhaps that was their intended purpose.

paolo · 29th Aug 2011, 6:58 am

The BBC article cited earlier actually explains that it isn't a "hairbrush" but a brush for removing hair from customers post-haircut. It was lowered from the ceiling to remove loose hair etc. I could see it being used to remove hair from shoulders etc but I definitely wouldn't want that anywhere near my scalp!

brenellic2000 · 29th Aug 2011, 10:12 am

Hi Paolo,

Sadly the BBC is not renowned, here in the UK, for its accuracy! Maclean's UK patent of 1903, No. 20100 illustrates this device and its purpose. He followed this up with a patent for an improved brush stock holding device to allow their easy replacement.

Barry

paolo · 30th Aug 2011, 7:59 am

Hi Barry

I bow to your greater wisdom and knowledge of the contents of the actual patent. It still holds true that I wouldn't fancy it anywhere near my bonce. The only thing it would be likely to stimulate production of is nervous adrenaline (or worse

)!

Paul

brenellic2000 · 30th Aug 2011, 11:17 am

Ah ha!, so the very thought makes your hair stand on end - making Maclean's invention redundant! Drat! Oh well, mind over matter....!

Philips210 · 30th Aug 2011, 4:56 pm

Using that brush, you could be 'hair' today and gone tomorrow!

Symon.

geoff999 · 31st Aug 2011, 7:26 am

I saw a similar brush in a Barbers' Shop in the nineteen thirties which was used to provide a sort of scalp massage. This one was belt-driven from an overhead shaft with a boy turning a crank on the wall while the barber - an old German called Mr Fisher- applied the brush to the customer in the chair.

brenellic2000 · 31st Aug 2011, 11:22 am

Ah, now I remember how I went bald: leaning against the 3" wide belata belt overhead shaft drive for my big lathe!

At least Maclean's patent specifies silk or cotton wrapped brass filaments, but was it to cosset the scalp, or mop up the blood?

TTFN

peter_scott · 31st Aug 2011, 11:23 am

http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...90320100A&KC=A

ppppenguin · 31st Aug 2011, 12:41 pm

At least my brush doesn't seem to actually electrify the scalp!

ppppenguin · 14th Sep 2011, 3:36 pm

I dared to power it up today. Variac and RCD. Wound up the volts and it was willing to rotate with assistance. At about 180V it started to spin slowly on its own and at 200V was running fairly freely, accelerating as the bearings eased. A clean up and a spot of oil on the bearings and it should be fine.

I didn't use the supplied mains lead

Since all it needs is an ordinary BC lampholder I used a lamp test lead I had to hand.

brenellic2000 · 14th Sep 2011, 3:44 pm

So, do you have Ken Dodd hairdo yet?!

Barry

28th Aug 2011, 5:10 pm	#21
tedzed1 Hexode Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 320	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? Who would have believed it, a hairbrush for bald people __________________ Cheers Paul.

28th Aug 2011, 7:37 pm	#22
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? It might be in one of those links in #7, I forget now, but I've read somewhere that these brushes were good for removing dandruff. Perhaps that was their intended purpose.

29th Aug 2011, 6:58 am	#23
paolo Heptode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 615	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? The BBC article cited earlier actually explains that it isn't a "hairbrush" but a brush for removing hair from customers post-haircut. It was lowered from the ceiling to remove loose hair etc. I could see it being used to remove hair from shoulders etc but I definitely wouldn't want that anywhere near my scalp!

29th Aug 2011, 10:12 am	#24
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? Hi Paolo, Sadly the BBC is not renowned, here in the UK, for its accuracy! Maclean's UK patent of 1903, No. 20100 illustrates this device and its purpose. He followed this up with a patent for an improved brush stock holding device to allow their easy replacement. Barry

30th Aug 2011, 7:59 am	#25
paolo Heptode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 615	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? Hi Barry I bow to your greater wisdom and knowledge of the contents of the actual patent. It still holds true that I wouldn't fancy it anywhere near my bonce. The only thing it would be likely to stimulate production of is nervous adrenaline (or worse )! Paul

30th Aug 2011, 11:17 am	#26
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? Ah ha!, so the very thought makes your hair stand on end - making Maclean's invention redundant! Drat! Oh well, mind over matter....!

30th Aug 2011, 4:56 pm	#27
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,580	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? Using that brush, you could be 'hair' today and gone tomorrow! Symon.

31st Aug 2011, 7:26 am	#28
geoff999 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Croydon Posts: 92	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? I saw a similar brush in a Barbers' Shop in the nineteen thirties which was used to provide a sort of scalp massage. This one was belt-driven from an overhead shaft with a boy turning a crank on the wall while the barber - an old German called Mr Fisher- applied the brush to the customer in the chair.

31st Aug 2011, 11:22 am	#29
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? Ah, now I remember how I went bald: leaning against the 3" wide belata belt overhead shaft drive for my big lathe! At least Maclean's patent specifies silk or cotton wrapped brass filaments, but was it to cosset the scalp, or mop up the blood? TTFN

31st Aug 2011, 11:23 am	#30
peter_scott Dekatron Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 3,274	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...90320100A&KC=A __________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterScott/videos

31st Aug 2011, 12:41 pm	#31
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? At least my brush doesn't seem to actually electrify the scalp!

14th Sep 2011, 3:36 pm	#32
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? I dared to power it up today. Variac and RCD. Wound up the volts and it was willing to rotate with assistance. At about 180V it started to spin slowly on its own and at 200V was running fairly freely, accelerating as the bearings eased. A clean up and a spot of oil on the bearings and it should be fine. I didn't use the supplied mains lead Since all it needs is an ordinary BC lampholder I used a lamp test lead I had to hand.

14th Sep 2011, 3:44 pm	#33
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Electric brush - what was it for? So, do you have Ken Dodd hairdo yet?! Barry