History time: How to be generous to a man at Christmas – 1929 edition

We have all been there. Looking for a gift for that special someone. Or that less special someone. The person who has everything – expect perhaps somewhere to store it all.

But fear not; Gillette know what the ideal gift to every man would be. Or would have been, back in 1929.

A 1929 advertisement from Gillette, just in time to be to late for this years Christmas shopping.

That’s right. The ideal gift to a man is fifty razor blades. Because, the ad tells us.

• It’s practical – because men apparently don’t want anything fun or frivilous.
• He won’t buy fifty blades at once himself – I mean, last time I ordered blades I bought three hundred.
• He’ll be sure to use them – well, they are right there.
• It’s personal – or at least for personal use.
• It’s good looking – another one they got right, the box looks better than carboard tube I got the one hundred green Astra blades in.
• It’s truly generous – because 90 USD / 81€ / 71£ / 925 NOK in todays money is a pretty generous gift.
• It will last well beyond Christmas season – at my rate of consumption, it’s almost a years worth of blades.
• It’s reasonable in price – so they say at least, even if blades are way cheaper today.

Mind you, I wouldn’t mind getting this as a gift myself.