The Wondrous World of Hair Waving Devices - A Collection

  My favorite vintage hairstyle has to be the beautifully sculpted waves of the 1920's-early 1930's.  Finger waves, water waves, Marcel waves - no matter if the hair was short or long, it was always in some sort of wave.  By the mid-1930's, waving one's hair was going out of style in favor of fluffier, less sculpted looks, and is a bit of a lost art.  In my vintage journey I've tried many times to achieve that iconic waved hair look, and what helped the most was using not only the same techniques, but as close to the original products as possible.  There are similar modern waving products out there, but as an avid antique collector I've been lucky in finding a variety of unique waving devices that are just what I need to learn how to create more authentic hairstyles.

Would you believe most of this I bought as one 'lot'?  My small collection grew to a large one in a single purchase!

The oldest pieces in this collection are from the 1920's.

Here is an image from an eBay sale showing the box.

Cut off scanned page from Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog from Spring 1922.
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Page from Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog from Fall 1923.
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Here are two sets of celluloid waving combs - no markings, but my research shows they are: a full set of Sears, Roebuck & Co. Water Waving Combs, circa 1922; and a partial set of Sears, Roebuck & Co. Water Wavers, circa 1923. 

 

 

Here is a NOS(New Old Stock) set of Sanitary Kid Leather Curlers.  I don't yet have the courage to open this pristine package, so I doubt I'll ever try them(link on how to make reproduction kid curlers below).

The rest of this collection hails from the entirety of the 1930's.

Here is a full set and partial set of wave setters.  I found a few of these sets on cards for sale online, so I know what they are, but since the setters aren't marked I haven't a clue about the brand or exact year.  I assume 1930's by the imagery, but they could be later 1920's as well.

 

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Here is a full set and possibly two partial sets of Goody Water Wavers, patented on September 30, 1930.  These wavers say 'patent pending', but Goody has so many patents that it wasn't too hard to find this particular invention.

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Here is a large amount(two sets and one extra) of Mervin Wave Clips, patented on November 29, 1932.  This type of clip can still be bought today, but the advantage of the older ones is their size - they're smaller, which is good for waving around the head.

 

Here is a full set with card of Vassar Wavers, presumably early 1930's based on the artwork.  It's hard to tell if these were ever used, but the foam of the curlers has started to degrade and they are unusable now.  The card, however, is beautifully illustrated and would be worth purchasing on its own. 

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Here is a full set of Goody Wave Clips, patented on May 12, 1936.  

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Here is the main piece from a set called Hold-Bob, this being the Hold-Bob Hair Curler, patented on November 30, 1937.  This product is the first sign of the death of the structured wave - it is used to make pin curls, and originally would have come with a set of bobby pins.  

 

And last but not least, is a 1920's-1930's curling iron with painted wooden handles, made in U.S.A.  The metal barrel is held over a flame to heat up and then used to curl the hair, similarly to using a modern electric curling iron.  This was the first hair device I ever collected, though I doubt I'll ever use it for safety reasons(meaning the safety of my hair!).

Further Research:
A great 1920's-1930's(and a bit earlier) resource: TheLongHairedFlapper on Youtube - here are her videos on Kid Curlers and 30's Curlers(like the Vassar Wavers)

Vintage Project Spotlight: 1935 Crochet Scarf, French Scarf

Welcome to the first in a new series spotlighting my vintage projects!

  Not all my projects are the type where I can show the whole process like my c. 1923 Butterick Dress , so these posts will just show the finished product, my inspiration, and how I style them.

This vintage project spotlight is on my 1935 crochet scarf, 'French Scarf'.

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  I've had this icy gray size 5 acrylic crochet thread for months, and I just couldn't think what to make with it.  I bought this back when I was just starting to dip my toe into using crochet thread, and it turns out that acrylic, as soft as it is, seems to get caught on the hook much, MUCH easier than using cotton thread.  I only had one ball, so I kept putting off using it since I just wanted to use it up and not buy anymore, but most patterns need at least two.  However, I finally found a cute scarf pattern that ended up using almost all the yarn.

  The pattern would be fairly simple for most people I assume(single crochet, chain, skip a stitch, then repeat, only doing single crochets under the chain), but for some reason I just can't get the hang of it(I always mess up when it's time to turn and start a new row).  To get a similar, loose effect, I did the body in double crochet instead, and continued following the pattern for the lacy edges(minus one row since I felt it was long enough and I was terrified I'd run out of yarn).

And here's the finished scarf!  

  I love that in the original photo it's shown worn with a bar pin, which I have several of and am always thinking about new ways to wear them.  It also looks great with this pastel-toned celluloid pin that I've been trying to wear more.

The shade in these outside photos makes the scarf look very blue - the tabletop views are much more accurate.

French Scarf #2020
Free Vintage Crochet: Patterns

For The Love Of Vintage Plastics: My Celluloid Collection

   My celluloid collection has been, almost accidentally, steadily growing since I started collecting antiques.  It turned out many of the items I wanted to buy were made from celluloid, which heightened my interest in learning about this plastic.

  As I had mentioned in my post about celluloid, I first became interested in collecting this plastic through searching for decorative hair combs.  Most hair combs from the 1910s-1930s are made from celluloid, so my love of combs inadvertently started my love of celluloid.

Decorative hair combs, circa 1910s-1920s. 
(There's a possibility the tortoiseshell comb is galaith, but with no markings I suppose I'll never know.)

  I then became intrigued by the beautiful dresser sets of the 1920s-1930s, many of which were made of a mother of pearl-like celluloid.  This type continues to be my favorite form of the plastic, and I struggle with having the will power to not purchase all of it.

 My pieced together, almost matching, dresser/toilet set in Maize Pearl with black edging, circa 1920s-1930s.

Button hook and cuticle cutter are from the same set, unmarked.

Mirror from a different set, unmarked.

Brush from a different set, marked 'DuPont USA'.

Shoe horn, circa 1920s.  A different pattern of pearl, marked 'Hampton Arch Amerith'.

Comb marked 'Lady Bobbie Trade~Mark' in Maize Pearl with rainbow swirl edging, circa 1920s-1930s.  While cleaning I broke off two of the teeth.  I managed to super-glue them back on, but I won't be able to use it now for fear of further damage.  Take it from me - be gentle with vintage plastics!

 Fold-up mirror in White Pearl, circa 1950s.  Marked 'Japan'.

  The rest of the pieces I've acquired are of the French Ivory/Ivorine/Pyralin style. 

Another dresser/toilet set, more specifically a manicure set, all matching, circa 1920s-1930s.  The close ups of the handles visibly show the faux striations to mimic true ivory.

Floral brooch, circa 1930s-1950s.  Not the usual French Ivory type, has no lines and light blushes of paint on the flowers.

Glove stretcher, marked 'French Ivory', 'Made in England', circa 1900-1910.  This is the only celluloid piece I bought not because it was celluloid, since at the time I thought French Ivory meant actual ivory.

My current whole collection.