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Page 16 The Antique Shoppe May, 2019
Barber Shop Poles

Trade signs of bloodier times

Larry LeMasters, LeMasters’ Antique News Service

The barber pole, long a staple trade sign in cities and barber poles are said to have first been painted red, white, and blue to replicate the
small towns, is now primarily found only in museums and colors of Old Glory.
collections since the old barber shop, familiar to most Baby Whatever the color meanings, barber poles are highly collectible today as both
Boomer boys, is long gone. It has been replaced with beauty trade signs and symbols of simpler, but more bloody times.
parlors that smell more of perfume and incense than of talc The most collected barber shop poles were produced by Koken of St. Louis,
and leather. With the decline and loss of barbershops, the MO. Ernest Koken opened Koken Barber’s Supply Company around 1890. His
barber pole has also slipped into bloody history. company specialized in barber chairs and barber poles, but Koken sold just about
The earliest barber poles were associated with the service any barber supply needed in a barbershop. Today, Koken barber poles are the
of bloodletting. Bloodletting flourished during the Dark highlight of many barber pole collections.
Ages and into the 18 century, when medicine was primitive Prior to 1950, only four barber pole manufacturers were known to exist, but by
th
and people died as often from going to a doctor as they did 2010, the only American company still producing barber poles is William Marvy of
from not going. St. Paul, MN. Marvy produces about 500 new barber poles each year.
Bloodletting was the medical Besides vintage and new barber poles, there is a potpourri of barber pole related
system of curing disease through items that collectors love. Barbasol Shaving cans were modeled after barber poles.
the letting or purging of one of Collectors search for vintage Barbasol cans, signs, and even false-bottom hidey-
the four “humours.” Humours hole cans where other valuables may be stored.
existed as liquids in the body and Gold and jeweled pendants are also popular with collectors. Many barber shop
were identified as blood, black bile, pendants have been manufactured, especially in the mid-20 century. Diamonds,
th
yellow bile, and phlegm, which rubies, and white and yellow gold made these pendants
had association with the four Greek popular when new and, today, popular with collectors.
elements of air, water, earth, and fire. Barber pole collectors with deep pockets search
Patients who suffered from for children’s pedal car chairs made by the American
fevers, coughs, headaches, National Emil J. Paidar Company in the 1920s. Built to
rheumatism, inflammation, and entice little boys to sit still, these car seats sit on a Paidar
a variety of other illnesses were barber chair base and the hydraulic base raises the lowers
prime candidates for bloodletting. the car. At $18,000+, these cars are showpieces in any
Many people, including barbershop pole collection.
President George Washington, A Franklin Mint D.H. Mosquito airplane, which flew
willingly submitted themselves in WWII, adds depth to a collection. These planes were
to bloodletting, and Washington nicknamed “Barber Pole” in 1944 when red and white
reportedly died when too much ↑ Vintage, barber pole diagonal stripes were added to their rudders. A die cast
Classic, American blood was drained or purged from used razor bank. This model of one costs about $175.
wooden barber pole. ceramic razor bank also
This pole is a new, his body. served as a stand for brush Barber pole razor stands and used razor depositories
reproduction of the Barber poles hung as bloody and razor handle, and it is are also popular since they are small, easy to display, and
old, vintage poles and trade signs, indicating barbers valued at $80. relatively inexpensive. There are many barber shop pole
it is valued at $800. practiced bloodletting. History Barbershop pole wooden stands to choose from, so searching for the right one is
indicates that the pole originated coat rack for use on part of the fun of collecting.
because patients would grip a wooden pole tightly to barbershop wall. This But while you are collecting, think of the gory
make veins show blue against their white skin. When a vintage rack is 30 inches history of the barber pole. Historical records indicate
tall valued at $416. →
barber opened a patient’s veins, oxygenated red blood the earliest barber-surgeons performed tooth extractions,
mixed with the white of the skin and the blue of the leeching, cupping, enemas, amputations, bloodletting,
blood vessel—the result was the birth of the barber pole. Some people think the and, some, even offered hair cuts. Today, thankfully, a barber pole, if used at all,
white on the pole represents bandages wrapped around a bloody arm. represents nothing more than a barbershop that cuts
There are many other legends on how barber poles began. One legend states hair and offers shaves.
the poles were painted red to mask bloodstains. Another states washed but Still, next time a barber places a straight razor
bloodstained bandages were hung outside on a pole to dry, and the blowing wind against your neck, you may want to take a long look
would wrap the bandages around the drying pole, creating stripes of red and white. at his trade sign, seeing the blood and bandages
It has even been said that the brass ball at the top of the pole was placed there as a of earlier times. Only the brave or foolhardy lets a
leech basin to hold leeches that were often applied to the open veins to suck blood. blood-letter place a razor-sharp instrument against
The ball on the bottom of the pole represents a blood-collection bowl. American his skin.

L-R Antique, early 1900s, Barber Pole Ring Toss Game by Parker Brothers that is valued at $60, 1920s Paidar children’s pedal car barbershop chair. This unique
chair was offered on eBay for $18,500, Vintage glass and brass barbershop pole shaving stand with brush razor blade handle. Standing over six inches tall, this
stand is valued at $200, James Barker barber pole with stained glass globe. Manufactured by Koken in the 1930s, valued at $7,500.