PHILISHAVE BATTERY SHAVER, 1950's

Philishave was the brand name for the electric shavers manufactured by the Philips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care unit of Philips (in the U.S.A., the Norelco name is used instead). In recent years, Philips had extended the Philishave brand to include hair clippers, beard trimmers and beard shapers. Philips used the Philishave brand name for their shavers from 1939 to 2006.

The Philishave shaver was invented by Philips engineer Alexandre Horowitz, who used rotating cutters instead of the reciprocating cutters that had been used in previous electric shavers.

The shaver was introduced in 1939, though initial production was limited due to the outbreak of World War II (the production facility in Eindhoven, the Netherlands was overrun by the German Army in 1940).
After the war, a slightly improved version of the cigar-shaped single-head shaver was introduced. A more ergonomic egg-shaped single-head model was introduced in 1948 and was designed by US industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Global sales increased markedly after a double-head model was introduced in 1951.
The brand name Philishave was phased out in 2006.

Bruce Hammond Collection

Your comments:

• I have a Ronson Philishave shaver.. cream coloured, with two cutting rotary heads, attached to a two pin plug. The cord to this shaver is tucked into a little shelf which is mounted on a 'burnt-orange & black coloured' advertising board. The board has a heading of 'Shave yourself with the NEW RONSON ELECTRIC RAZOR'. Underneath the heading is a mirror mounted on the board. The 'shelf' and the holder for the razor are situated under the mirror. Half rubbed away by the plug contacting with the side of the 'shelf' is a printed gold coat of arms and, also in gold, are the words 'By appointment to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. Suppliers of Electrical Shavers. Ronson Products Ltd.' from what I am reading on here of the descriptions of the shavers this sounds like an advertising board for the launch of sales of an early 1950's Philishave.
  .......... L Soar, West Midlands WS6 6NB, 4th of September 2013
  
  
• I WAS BOUGHT A PHILLISHAVE FOR MY 21ST BIRTHDAY IN 1958. IT HAS THE NUMBERS 914432 AND 7745 AND THE WORDS MADE IN GT BRITAIN ON IT. IT IS A CREAM COLOUR AND HAS TWO HEADS AND TWO PLUG INS, ONE GOES INTO A STANDARD TWO PIN PLUG AND THEN THERE IS A FITTING THAT FITS OVER THIS SO IT CAN BE PLUGGED INTO A STANDARD BAYONET LIGHT FITTING. IT HAS A BROWN ZIPPED CASE. IT IS STILL IN WORKING ORDER.
  .......... MR GEORGE ALLEN, NUNEATON WARWICKSHIRE ENGLAND, 1st of August 2013
  
  
• My wife purchased my latest Phillips shaver this last Christmas and I was absolutely delighted.This gift brought happy memories to me of my first Phillips razor which I bought in 1957 at the age of thirteen.I could not get used to wet shaving so decided to save for an electric alternative.This I achieved by working all hours I could find in my local garage.I was so impressed with my first Phillips that I have never used any other method of shaving.Phillips has been the only shaver I have used for fifty five years and would never consider changing to any other product. Thank you Phillips, Doug.O'Brien
  .......... Doug.O'Brien, Dorking, Surrey, England., 15th of January 2012
  
  

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