History time: We menfolk don’t like to buy “cheap”…

…at least if the old ad for the Bessegg blade is to be believed. Speaking as one of the menfolk, I’m inclined to agree.

I’ve talked about Bessegg before – covering both the blades and two ads for their razor. Today we have a blade advertisement, which according to the source is from 1935. The Bessegg factory operated from 1927 until 1961, so bare minimum the advertisement cannot be older or newer than that.

The Bessegg ad – talking to the menfolk

A quick translation;

We menfolk don’t like to buy “cheap”. We want something good – something first class – BESSEGG

BESSEGG BLADE

“The new quality” – 25 øre per blade – Norwegian and good

Cheap, in context, don’t mean inexpensive. It means something cheaply or shoddily made. And as one of the menfolk, I can attest that I don’t want a cheap blade in my razor – but I’m more than happy to buy inexpensive blades if they are good.

For context, 25 øre in 1935 is 16 kroner and 23 øre today – or 1.52 USD / 1.40 EUR / 1.20 GBP.

Per blade.

So not cheap in the more vernacular meaning of the word either.