Gillette Research Project
November 15, 2006I have decided to trace the (American) advertising history of Gillette razor blades since the company was founded in 1901. I will do some background research to describe the founding of the company, and I will also research the cultures and trends of each decade and how they affected Gillette’s advertising methods. I want my project to be focused on the advertising history rather than on the history of shaving because, as I have found out, the history of shaving is vast, world wide, and complicated. For this reason, I will simply trace Gillette ads all through the 20th century to now and relate those ads to the attitudes towards men at the time.
I expect to find that there has been a ton of different kinds of razors over the years: one blade, two blades, three blades, thirty-seven blades, etc. Along with this progression of the blade itself, I expect to see a change in Gillette’s advertising strategy. Gillette, being to first official company to produce a safety blade and is still around today, I’m assuming I’ll be finding some crazy numbers of how much money the company has made / is still making.
I found a brief article about “King Camp Gillette” online that summarizes his life and invention of the disposable safety blade. Came up with the idea of the blade himself, but needed the help of MIT-trained inventor, William Nickerson, to create the actual product. However, this was not the first razor blade (as we know it) to be created. I found an online shaving timeline that listed William Henson as creating the first “hoe-type” razor (where the blade is perpendicular to the handle, as we are familiar with today). After that, the Ample Brothers placed a patent on their safety razor in 1880, which had to be sharpened often. This then led to our good friend Gillette inventing his disposable safety razor in 1895.
I still need to make a timeline of actual advertisements to see how each ad leads to the next. Also, I still need to research each decade and the masculine culture of the time. Basically, I need to actually do RESEARCH.
I think you’ve chosen a good and very specific research topic. Also, the fact that you’re not doing the history of shaving won’t harm the overall product of your project at all. This way it’ll be more concise. I know you say you have more research ahead of you, but it definitely seems like you’ve got a good foundation. Your sources thus far seem reliable, based on your descriptions. I would just recommend to complete the research I guess…but that’s kind of a given
Can’t wait to see the result- interesting topic!
1. great topic, not too broad. i like that you have already narrowed it down to not include the history of shaving itself, which i have no doubt it complicated
2. You seem to have done some research, considering that you have learned enough to thoroughly narrow down your topic and seem to have some basic knowledge of what you’re doing.
3. according to your descriptions, i’d think your sources are reliable, but i’d have to see the sight in order to definatively say so.
4. this sounds interesting, have as much fun as possible doing it.
Your argument is wicked clear, slash it sounds really interesting. I never really thought about the history of the razor blade, its just one of those take it for granted things. Thats great that you found research online, especially that timeline. Um, I recommend you continue being awesome? Slash there might be some books on shaving, you might want to check that out. (If theres books on music videos, there has to be a book on shaving/razors)
kfitz
Your argument is very clear. you’ve already decided to focus in on the history of advertising which seems perfect for doing research. I’m interested to see how you are going to relate the ads to the attitudes toward men at the time. & like you said, a lot more research will have to happen before you come up with a stronger argument. Yes, I would read yours because I think it is an intriguing argument that you make!!
Your topic seems really intersting and unique and as kathy would say bangin’. It seems that so far you have some good resources that fit your topic really well and seem rather reliable. I look forward to reading your probably humerous paper, it seems like it will be a good one.