Braun

Founded in 1921, Braun is a German consumer products company that has been a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble since 2005. The company first only produced components for radio sets and audio equipment. Then, in the 1950s, Braun began creating the item it is most known for today—the electric shaver, a bladed tool used in the removal of body hair. The Braun company was vital in the development of the modern electric shaver.

Braun’s first electric shaver was the S50 released in 1951. The shaver was actually first designed in 1938, but its introduction to the world was delayed due to World War II. The S50 featured an oscillating cutter block with a very thin, but stable perforated steel-foil mounted above it. Once the user places that thin foil surface against his face, his hair goes through the holes and gets trimmed by the blades. At the time, competitor’s models had a comb-like metal layer that protected the user’s skin from the blades beneath it. Braun’s foil layer was much thinner than the metal combs on razors from Schick and Remington, allowing for a much closer shave. This design is still evident in Braun shavers today.

Braun continued advancing its design and technology of its electric shavers throughout the years. Some of these improvements include bettering the production of perforated foils by using electrotyping instead of a punch press, the addition of a hair trimmer, the use of rechargeable batteries that allowed cordless operation, experimenting with different materials like chrome, plastic and steel, and the introduction of the double shaving head.

History of Braun Shavers

Braun Wikipedia