Shaving kit

1860–1870

orEurope

Place madeUnited States, North America

Leather, wood, metal, plastic, animal bristle

Container: 2 1/8 × 7 7/8 × 4 1/4 in. (5.4 × 20 × 10.8 cm)

Gift of the Estate of Isidore L. Rosenzweig in memory of Bessie and Isidore L. Rosenzweig, 1978

INV.8671d-k

This shaving kit belonged to Lt. Col. William H. Paine, who served as a surveyor in the Army during the Civil War. Paine was responsible for devising systems and tools to better facilitate the surveyor's tasks, including patenting a coiled steel tape measure. It was among the contents of his footlocker.

DescriptionRectangular leather shaving kit with leather strap around the center to secure the kit to stay closed, strap with rectangular metal buckle at one end with single tongued chape; kit contains a removable leather "card" with loops across the center on one side to slide objects into; objects include wooden hairbrush with yellow bristles, black plastic-handled razor, blade swivels at one end of handle, black plastic comb, leather razor strop with wooden handle, in leather case, and shaving brush with metal handle and yellow bristles.

Markingsstamped: bottom of case: "W. H. PAINE, / 107 WEST 122 STREET, NEW YORK." stamped: inside lid: "W. H. PAINE / ASSISTANT ENGINEER / New York & Brooklyn Bridge / 22 Lands St., (illeg.)" etched: near hinge end of razor blade: "50 / j. a. HENCKELS / GRAEF & SCHMIDT"

ClassificationsMILITARY TOOLS & EQUIPMENT: MISCELLANEOUS