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Aluminum combs

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Author	Topic: Aluminum combs
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:24 PM In an earlier thread (Antique aluminum spoon) I promised to post pictures of my collection of aluminum combs and hair ornaments. I believe these are from the 1900s-1920s, mostly the teens. I love them for their design and their incredible hand work. We think of aluminum as a cheap metal for machine-driven mass production, but these things were all finely cut and engraved by hand, with their zillion rhinestones hand set. They were meant to imitate platinum set with diamonds. I've also included a few cut-steel combs from the same period or slightly earlier. First, a photo of most of my collection, to give you a sense of the relative sizes: IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:27 PM The biggest one, in the center of the first photo, is a back comb. I believe it's from the late 1890s or the first decade of the 20th century because of its Art Nouveau-y shape--and also because hairstyles requiring back combs were going out of style by the teens. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:28 PM At the top center is a large lacy deco-style comb top that has lost its celluloid comb part. Looks late teens or early 1920s to me. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:30 PM A barrette, I'm guessing from the teens: The clasp mechanism is steel. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:33 PM Two small aluminum combs with celluloid teeth (at least, I'm guessing it's celluloid--I don't know that much about early plastics): I think these are probably from the 1920s, but that's just a guess. Could be the teens. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:35 PM This one's solid aluminum, and unlike almost all of them, it's marked. If anyone knows anything about these manufacturers or knows of any books about them, please tell! IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:36 PM An aluminum side comb with a celluloid (?) body; I can post a photo of the other one of these if anyone wants (I think I have some on my camera). IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:39 PM Cut steel combs attached by hinges to what may be celluloid or horn tines. I think these could be earlier--maybe from the 1890s or 1880s. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:41 PM I love this one. It's a cut steel butterfly. 1890s? 1880s? 1900s? Not sure. Guesses welcome. Again, I don't know what the tines are made of. Horn? Celluloid? Tortoise shell? IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:44 PM This one was once a big tiara-type comb, but it lost its tines long ago and somebody attached a silver chain to it to make it into a necklace. It's a cool necklace, but it looks upside-down to me that way. It's cut steel and paste. Back side: IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:48 PM And this is my new one that I just got yesterday. I'm madly in love with it. It's an aluminum comb from the 1920s, with a plume-shaped top and curvy tines. And it's dimensional! Not only did someone carve, engrave, and set rhinestones in all those plumes, but they somehow figured out how to bend them so they pass behind each other. Isn't the back view cool? See how dimensional? And look at the hilarious mark! Platinum! IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:52 PM That's all for now. I have another plume one coming in the mail--I'll post it when it gets here--but it's not nearly as good. And I think I have another one or two lurking in a drawer somewhere--I'll post them if they turn up. These things can be pretty inexpensive, since aluminum gets no respect. Of course, now I'll probably have more competition for them... IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-07-2012 01:54 PM Oops, I see I neglected to photograph the biggish one at the upper right corner. Let me know if anyone wants to see it closer up. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 05-07-2012 05:19 PM Very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. IP: Logged
ellabee Posts: 306 Registered: Dec 2007	posted 05-10-2012 12:19 AM Your latest acquisition is my favorite of those, Polly (though I love them all). It reminds me of the Milton Glaser poster of Bob Dylan. IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 05-10-2012 07:26 AM Hello Polly, Lovely collection, make me wish I had long hair again. There are several books on Hair comb collecting. Authors are: Norma Hague, Mary Batchman & Evelyn Haertig. I'm sure a search will bring them up. Also, there is such a metal as Platinum! Have fun with your treasures. Jersey IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-10-2012 11:12 AM Thanks, Jersey! I do have that comb book--thanks for reminding me. The mark is platUnIum, not platinum. With a U instead of an I and then an extra I at the end. See? They fooled you!!! IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-13-2012 01:49 PM As promised, here's a photo of the other plume-shaped 1920s comb, which arrived yesterday. Poor thing, it has a couple of broken celluloid (?) tines and pales in comparison to its Platunium sister. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 06-03-2017 11:33 AM I got a new comb--the one in the middle: Back: IP: Logged

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