Smoother than smooth: Philips' rotary shaving system
Around the world, millions of men shave with a Philips shaver. It started modestly, however. On March 14, 1939, the first six were demonstrated to the public at the Voorjaarbeurs in Utrecht. No one could suspect then that the shaver would grow into one of the company's most successful products.
Philips, mainly active with light bulbs and radios, is looking for new products in the 1930s. In the U.S., electric shaving was on the rise. Would that be something for Philips? A box full of American devices is sent to Eindhoven. Developer Alexandre Horowitz and engineer Lex van Dam set to work with it.
Rotating blades
Horowitz invents a system with rotating blades that works much more efficiently than the American devices with reciprocating motion. After a few tests and improvements, the management gives the green light. Over the years, numerous innovations in shaving performance, speed and comfort have been applied, placing Philips shavers among the world's best for many generations.
Text by Philips Company Archive.
Copyright: Koninklijke Philips N.V. / Philips Company Archives
Folder Philishave type 7730 (1939)
Advertising poster Philishave type 7743 (1951)
Research Philishave at Philips in Drachten (1969)
50 years of Philishave: On the left, the first Philishave 7730 from 1939. On the right, the HS950 from 1989.
Model anno 2023: 'Philips Shavers s9000 Prestige SP9883/35'. Thanks to NanoTech Dual Precision blades and Philips' best protective coating. The shaver automatically adjusts its speed to the density of your beard, allowing you to shave quickly and effortlessly. Moreover, the S9000 Prestige follows all the contours of your face, shaving even the most difficult hairs. Clean your shaver in 1 minute with the Quick Clean Pod and charge your shaver wirelessly with the charging pad with Qi technology.
Want more fun Eureka facts?
October is History Month, the largest history event in the Netherlands. Together with hundreds of cultural institutions, bookstores and libraries, we bring history to the attention of millions of Dutch people. This year's theme is Eureka! And a lot of inventions have been made at Philips. That's why we like to give some extra attention to important discoveries made in Philips history.
Also read the post about the Compact Disc: the audio revolution. A story about how the CD changed the music industry.
