• 1935 Schick Model S
• 1936 Packard Lektro-Shaver
• 1937 Remington Model E
• 1937 Roto Shaver
• 1937 Sunbeam Shavemaster
• 1938 Arvin Consort
• 1938 Braun Standard 50
• 1938 Ever-Ready
• 1938 Rolls Razor Viceroy
• 1938 Rolls Razor Viceroy Universal
• 1939 Philips Philishave 7730/6
• 1939 Smoothmaster
• 1942 Schick Super
• 1947 Chilton Buk
• 1948 Dandy
• 1948 Philips Philishave 7735
• 1948 Remington Contour 6

c1935 Schick model S Canada Second generation Schick, replaced pioneer 1931 model, produced c1935-c1948. Flat-mounted induction motor requiring turnwheel to start, oscillating cutter inside multi-slot head. Simple, black phenol plastic body. Resistance coil for different voltages supplied. Click here for an image spread from the user instructions.
1936 Packard Lektro-Shaver USA Manufactured by Lektro Products, started by AM Andrews, former salesperson for Schick, breaking Schick's monopoly. Differentiated by smooth round profile to head. Visually similar to the Schick with 110 volt motor and turnwheel start. 'Duplex' travel version available with twin 110 and 32 volt ('Pullman') versions. 6 and 12 volt versions for campers and automobiles. Click for head and plug details. Click for logo and box graphics. Click for pages 1 2 3 4 from the instruction booklet.
1937 Remington model E USA First Remington razor, very similar to 1935 Schick with turnwheel-start induction motor. Rounded shearing head, cream urea plastic body. Replaced by Contour 6 model in 1948. Same body used for first women's razor, 1947. Resistance coil for different voltages supplied. Packaged in pigskin wallet and/or carton. Click for 1 2 3 4 pages from the instruction manual.
1937 Roto Shaver model 1 USA New York Compact and rare design in black phenol plastic with rotating cutter and two circular cast-alloy heads for shaving and trimming. Turnwheel activated induction motor, mounted vertically. Supplied with accessories in a leather pouch. USA patent number 1937. Body size and shape very similar to 1936 Packard.
1937 Sunbeam Shavemaster model R USA Chicago First Sunbeam razor. Bigger format than pre-war Schick/Remington. Hefty black phenol plastic body with streamlined detailing. Standard universal motor driving cam-operated cutter. Curved foil shearing head. Chrome-plated steel clip-on cover. Integral flex and rotary switch. Sleek design of resistance coil. Pigskin zip case and silver-painted boxes. Click here to see the whole package. Click here to see a section diagram from the user instructions. Click here to see a 1938 ad from Picture Post.
1938 Arvin Consort UK Southend Early British razor with oscillating induction motor (earliest examples have exposed turnwheel). Sleek USA-inspired two-part body in dark maroon phenol plastic, very well moulded with crisp detail graphics and Art Deco devices. Carton in similar vein with Moderne typography. Permanent flex connection via black moulded rubber grip, again with detail type. Instructions inside carton top warn against excessive use and over-heating. Patent number 524,412 for cutting head, applied for 1939, application number 3143/39. Still available in late-1940s.
1938/1950 Braun Standard model S50 Germany First Braun razor, 1938 design, launch delayed by WW2 until 1950. Rakish and elegant design, though quickly outdated by second generation razors (see Ronson) under new Braun design ethos. Elegant black ribbed phenol plastic body with matching rubber connector. Oscillating cutter and foil shearing head with tensioner. Luxurious imitation tortoiseshell case with transparent acrylic lid and accessories. Also manufactured in cream. Click here to see cream version with cheaper packaging.
c1938 Rolls Razor Viceroy UK Cricklewood Electric version of hand-cranked friction motor model, hefty maroon phenol plastic body with streamlined details. Patented shaving head from non-electric version. Induction motor used, early versions requiring turnwheel to start.. Earliest version has plain black soft leatherette case with press-stud; later model in steel snap-case covered in maroon leatherette. Click here for complete ensemble. Click here for instruction leaflet.
c1938 Ever-Ready model A UK First Ever-Ready electric razor (model A), designed and manufactured in the US. Elegant and streamlined black phenol plastic body with maroon start wheel. Design similar to early Schick with oscillating cutter inside shearing head with side slots. comprehensive and modern design instructions. Small dark green imitation snakeskin snap case with dark green velvet and satin lining. Click here for complete ensemble.
c1938 Rolls Razor Viceroy Universal UK Cricklewood Universal, dual-volt version of standard electric Viceroy razor. Cream phenol plastic body with streamlined details. Patented shaving head from non-electric version with slide-off chrome/steel cover. Induction motor with turnwheel to start. Steel snap-case covered in cream leatherette with blue leatherette inside. Rolls Razor plug and cord storage ring with 'The Whetter' trademark, also on case and razor body. Click here for razor in case.
1939 Philips Philishave model 7730/6 The Netherlands First generation Philips razor and pioneer of rotating Philishave head. In-line cutter and brush motor, hence known as 'Cigar' model. Model 7736 (1940) has 'skin-stretching rim' around original small, screw-off shaver head of model 7730. Elegant fluted black phenol plastic body with hemi-spherical end and moulded-in product details. Clip-on black-enamelled steel head cover. Post-war version in brown phenol plastic and slightly altered body. Very rare in UK.
c1939 Smoothmaster UK Very small, inexpensive razor. Two-part black, matt-finish, phenol plastic body with horizontal moulding and 'Smooth Master' logotype. Crude and flimsycutting mechanism, fixed top blade with oscillating cutter beneath. Simple brown cardboard carton with pale purple graphics. No indication of model number or manufacturing company.
1942 Schick Super Twinhead USA Major upgrade and restyle of pioneer Schick model. Cream ribbed urea plastic body with gold-effect trim. Single head version. Designed by US industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Optional Shaverest holder. Click here for detail of twin head cutter. Click here for whole package. Click here for Schick logo detail. Click for pages 1 2 3 4 of users' instructions.
c1947 Chilton Buk UK Hungerford Larger than standard contemporary razor, design similar to Chilton clipper. Oscillating cutter with chrome-plated guard. Sliding switch. Unusual modern 'Buk' logo. Cream urea plastic body. Click here for packaging. Click here for an ad from Picture Post.
c1948 Dandy Switzerland Unusual double-ended razor - circular rotating foil head at one end of cigar-shape body, trimming head at the other. Cream flex emerges half-way along body. 220 volt, 11 watt motor. Mottled brown phenol plastic body with cream plastic trim. Heavy and bulky to use. Leatherette zip-up case. Rare 'Vactric' branded version. Click here to see case and cleaning brush.
1948 Philips Philishave model 7735 The Netherlands Second generation Philips razor, neat and elegant 'egg'-shape to fit palm of hand, by US industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Self-start universal motor driving single Philips rotary cutter with screw-off head with separate chrome-plated steel cover. Cream urea plastic body and moulded urea plastic Philips plug with integral 110/240v voltage selector. Packaged in oval zip-up leather case. Tiny turned-wood cleaning brush like a miniature shaving brush. Design comment Design March 1950.
1948 Remington Contour 6 model AB UK Second generation Remington razor by US industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Produced 1948-c1955. Triple-cutting head. Light/dark grey urea plastic body, maroon accessories, imitation reptile-skin snap-case. Developed into 'Three/Four/ Fivesome' models in different colours. Click here for an ad featuring the five-head version .