To develop the technology of stainless steel grinding, Wilkinson Sword formed a joint venture with the German company, Osberghaus KG based in Solingen in 1956.

The razor and blade segment of the business was nurtured and numerous technological breakthroughs were made. To this day, Wilkinson produces fine ceremonial swords, crafted by hand for the past two centuries. Numerous other fine products followed and before long, sheep shears and manicure items were being sold under the sign of the crossed swords. In 1920, Wilkinson again shifted to consumer demands and the production of razors, garden tools and pruning shears. World War I placed heavy demands on the production of bayonets and razor production came to a standstill. This highly efficient razor used re-stroppable hollow-ground blades and was dramatically safer than a straight razor. In 1898, the Wilkinson Sword Company introduced the Pall Mall safety razor and started a new phase of its history. The business prospered and moved to larger premises in 1877, and expanded to encompass the manufacture of straight razors. Henry expanded the business when he introduced sword making to the operation. James inherited the business in 1805 and brought his son, Henry, into it as well. He became one of England's foremost gun makers and eventually took on a partner - James Wilkinson, a son-in-law and former apprentice in his shop. Wilkinson Sword's beginnings date back to 1772 when Henry Nock started a business making guns and bayonets in London. After the acquisition of Schick by Warner-Lambert in 1970, steady technical progress moved forward as it had in the past. Five years later, Schick pioneered another innovation when scientists succeeded in depositing a thin layer of chromium to the blade edge, making it more durable. This non-stick material improved comfort by reducing friction during the shave. manufacturer to sell stainless steel blades coated with Teflon. The following years were busy ones for Schick as it introduced many product innovations. In 1961, Schick moved its manufacturing facilities into its present home in Milford, Connecticut, where the headquarters for the Shaving Products Group now resides. American Chain and Cable produced the product for Schick until 1958, when Schick set up its own manufacturing operations in Bridgeport, Connecticut. acquired the Magazine Repeating Razor Company and renamed it the Schick Safety Razor Company. He sold all his interest in the Magazine Repeating Razor Company to the president of the American Chain and Cable Company. In 1927, Schick succeeded with his dry shaver, and a year later became so convinced that the 'wet shave' method would be doomed by the electric razor that he started a separate corporation to manufacture and sell Schick electric razors. These razors were the forerunners to the famous Schick Injector Razor. Production of this innovative razor started in Jersey City in 1926. Inspired by the army repeating rifle, it had replacement blades stored in the handle ready to be fed into shaving position without the chore and danger of handling a sharp blade. In 1921, Colonel Schick invented a new type of safety razor - the Magazine Repeating Razor. After the war, he attempted to generate interest in his design, but had no luck and began to work on other inventions. It was during this lonely period that he first conceived the idea for a dry shaver and sketched out a design that could shave without water or lather. During one particularly severe winter, while the temperature hovered at 40ø F below zero, he noticed he had a difficult time trying to shave.Ībout this time, he sprained his ankle and was forced to remain in camp alone for several months. He retired from the military in 1910, but then returned to service at the start of World War I.ĭuring his respite from the army, Colonel Schick staked mining claims in Alaska and British Columbia. Schick ® traces its origins to the inventive U.S. The Schick ® Story Shaving a Path in Razor History

Schick injector razor