Vintage Military Shaving Photos

[Holyhabanero]

As I was looking at old shaving videos, I came across memory.loc.gov (http://memory.loc.gov) which had several vintage shaving images, including these great photos of servicemen shaving:

GI shaving in foxhole using helmet as basin (1945)
http://photoswest.org/photos/00200001/00200058.jpg

Soldier shaving (date & location unknown)
http://runyon.lib.utexas.edu/n2r?urn:utlol:runyon.08065.jpg

Fifth Cavalry in camp at Grant Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois (1915)
http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0650/n065063a.jpg

Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Sergeant George Camblair shaving in the morning at the camp. (1942)
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8d22000/8d22300/8d22326r.jpg

Sergeant Crowley holding a mirror and shaving, kneeling in a field (1927)
http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0837/n083759.jpg

GI shaving in the shell-blasted church at Pietra Colora (1945)
http://photoswest.org/photos/00200251/00200272.jpg

Recruit lathering his face with a shaving brush in front of a makeshift vanity at the military school at Fort Sheridan, Illinois (1915)
http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0654/n065457.jpg

Recruit shaving at a makeshift vanity at the military camp at Fort Sheridan, Illinois] (1915)
http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0654/n065456.jpg

Italian boys watching a GI getting a shave (1945)
http://photoswest.org/photos/00200251/00200303.jpg

[roughrider]

Great find. Got any more?

[Holyhabanero]

Great find. Got any more?
You bet. I've posted them in a new thread.

[Jonnybc]

These photos are excellent. Do you collect vintage shaving pics of is this the beginning of a new obsession?

[rtaylor61]

What better what to "decorate" a shave den"? Great photos, and thanks for sharing.

Randy

[Holyhabanero]

These photos are excellent. Do you collect vintage shaving pics or is this the beginning of a new obsession?
The latter. It is quite facinating to see thes old photos.

[Holyhabanero]

What better what to "decorate" a shave den"? Great photos, and thanks for sharing.

Randy

That's a great idea. Some of these photos at memory.loc.gov (http://memory.loc.gov) are provided in large format so they could eaily be printed on photo paper and framed.

[roughrider]

Soldier in WW2 shaving to enable an air-tight seal when wearing his gas mask.

http://www.combatreform.com/shavinginWW2.jpg



http://www.combatreform.com/spork.htm

[htownmmm]

Those pictures brought back memories for me!

When I was in the Army, we were all issued a "steel pot"- much better for keeping your water hot than the current kevlar helmets of today.

Plus, shaving was a must- no way to escape the effects of 'gas' w/o having a tight seal-which u could not have unless your face was BBS.


Marty

[bluepunk18]

Could you please direct us to the new thread? Thanks!

[paul.c]

Thanks for this post, I love it.

[JimBow]

I'm a part of this heritage....wow.

[JEEP]

These pics are amazingly cool.

Thanks for sharing. If you have more; keep them coming :001_smile


Regards.

Jakob

[Warlock]

Very cool pics :badger:

[cynical1]

Soldier in WW2 shaving to enable an air-tight seal when wearing his gas mask.

http://www.combatreform.com/shavinginWW2.jpg



http://www.combatreform.com/spork.htm

Would that make this razor an old Ranger Tech? Not many others had the open end back then did they?

__________
Steve

[mk-ultra]

Thank you for the pictures.

My father served in WWII in England, North Africa, Sicily, and France. I remember him telling me once about having to use their helmets to crack the ice that had formed on the water barrels so they could shave. Ouch! I don't recall where this was but, apparently, they didn't have hot towels there either.

[AndritVoor]

It's an interesting juxtaposition in some of those pictures, for example, the chaos of the bombed out church to the simple, peaceful shaving.

[_JP_]

That's a great idea. Some of these photos at memory.loc.gov (http://memory.loc.gov) are provided in large format so they could eaily be printed on photo paper and framed.

Go to that link and use the search term shave. You'll get well over 500 items to check out.

[Leche]

I remember him telling me once about having to use their helmets to crack the ice that had formed on the water barrels so they could shave.

There's a part in Band of Brothers where one of the officers is trying to generate lather with ice water:eek:. Thanks to all our military personnel for your sacrifices (even the shaving ones) and service to this great nation. Cool pics by the way.

[thirdeye]

These are awesome pictures, Boy do I remember when.......

Thanks for sharing these with all of us....

[Ru4scuba?]

Man this was cool. I'm a beginner WWII historian (really more of a serious dabbler) but this pics were too neat!

[NFlames]

I'm jealous! I was in the "modern" Marine Corps and still remember shaving in the field...with a crappy disposable...dry.

[invisionz]

Man I thought I was roughing it with a cold shave last weekend with only slightly less than luke warm water. My shave didn't turn out to be bad and seeing these photos I know that they didn't have hot water and still managed to shave.

No excuses! Shave everyday, hot water or not!

[dmpomeroy]

Chris - Outstanding! Thanks much for the photographs, brings back lot's of memories from my tour of duty in Nam '67 - '68.

D Pomeroy

[dmpomeroy]

There's a part in Band of Brothers where one of the officers is trying to generate lather with ice water:eek:. Thanks to all our military personnel for your sacrifices (even the shaving ones) and service to this great nation. Cool pics by the way.


Leche
I believe you are referring to the segment of Band of Brothers depicting the Battle of Bastogne where the 101st Airborne, (Easy Co.) were surrounded and engaged by numerically superior Geman forces. The scene shows Capt. or is it Major Winters attempting to shave with a helmet full of ice water. I can't even begin to imagine how miserable that must have been. A very sincere and grateful Thank You to our Greatest Generation!

[SRock]

These pics are awesome, thanks for sharing!





These are awesome pictures, Boy do I remember when.......

... you were at Belleau Wood? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

J/K Ray

[petr]

that has to be the youngest marine corp e-7 I've ever seen.

[paul.c]

They really fast tracked back then

[rm71]

Fantastic photos. Thanks for posting.

[SRock]

that has to be the youngest marine corp e-7 I've ever seen.

You have to remember in major conflicts where tens of thousands of America's bravest lost their lives promotions came very quick.

Today the average E-7 is older, however we have an E-8 in my unit who is only 31 years old. Talk about a fast burner!

[eightysixCJ]

Great photos! Thanks for sharing.

[bluepunk18]

My contribution, after searching the internet:
http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c?q=3d8051fdcb8d275f_landing

For more amazing pics, I strongly recommend searching the Life Magazine archives. They even have pictures of blind vets straight-shaving:eek:

[1OldGI]

Soldier in WW2 shaving to enable an air-tight seal when wearing his gas mask.

http://www.combatreform.com/shavinginWW2.jpg



http://www.combatreform.com/spork.htm

It should also be noted that few things on the planet suck worse than wearing a gas mask on a freshly shorn face. About 30 seconds after you put on your gas mask, you feel like you did six passes with a dull straight razor and dunked your head into a pool of alcohol. Ah those were the days :thumbup1:

[DV8_JERM]

Cool pics that just goes to show you ,you can get a good shave anywhere with a DE or a Straight.

[bluepunk18]

I've always wanted to try shaving using a mirror on a car or military jeep...Anyone else?:scooter:

[SRock]

I've always wanted to try shaving using a mirror on a car or military jeep...Anyone else?:scooter:

I've shaved using the passenger side mirror of an Up Armored HMMWV (Hummer) and a canteen cup full of warm water. Not nearly as nice as a full on proper bathroom shave but it worked.

[Joshua Da Silva]

These are great photos :) Those would also be great on the wall of an old school barber shop, especially the one of the Italian boys watching. This also makes me with I had my own bathroom to dedicate entirely to shaving so I can hang those pictures.

[thunderball]

Here's a few more you might not have seen:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/BE055313.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/Shaving.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/ValCartShave.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/WH2-22BaP013bh280.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/HU008575.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/HU037066.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/HU047866.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/IH129691.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/IH170930.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/24th_Evac_Hosp05.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/3140233.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s257/nuskool73/c.jpg

[SRock]

Cool additions, thanks for sharing.

[john.crissman]

This is one of the coolest threads I have read in a long time!

[netsurfr]

Great pics! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

[missnu]

Man, really great pics.

[Luc]

I must bump this up, very nice pictures in here. Shame some are missing...

[hitemfrank]

I must bump this up, very nice pictures in here. Shame some are missing...

I don't venture in here much so I just noticed these. Like you say some very nice pictures.

I'll add some more.

Greenville, South Carolina. Air Service Command. Enlisted men shaving in the wooded area occupied by the 25th service group.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8d32000/8d32100/8d32128r.jpg

Washington, D.C. Hugh Massman, a second class petty officer who is studying in Washington, shaving.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8d41000/8d41900/8d41925r.jpg

Washington, D.C. Without engaging a hotel room, traveling servicemen may take a shower, shave, and wash and iron clothes at the United Nations service center.1943
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8d41000/8d41800/8d41869r.jpg

George Washinton's Rrazor
http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0556/n055622.jpg

Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Sergeant George Camblair shaving in the morning at the camp.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8d08000/8d08100/8d08170r.jpg

[SRock]

There have been some great additions to this thread. Thank you, Luc for the bump.

Anyone else have any great photos to add?

[hitemfrank]

Here is one that doesn't show on the first page anymore.

Soldier in WW2 shaving to enable an air-tight seal when wearing his gas mask.
http://www.combatreform.org/shavinginWW2.jpg


http://www.corbisimages.com/images/67/AD64B212-D7FE-4182-AB88-2597BDC0E1A6/HU042430.jpg

[SRock]

Here is one that doesn't show on the first page anymore.

Thanks for reposting these!:thumbup1:

[hitemfrank]

No problem Rob.