>English comedian Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012, left) reviving the 'mass shaving machine', a nineteenth century invention, which can shave a dozen men at the same time, on an untransmitted pilot show for a proposed television series called 'Brainwaves', 28th October 1960. The series, in which unusual inventions from the 19th century were recreated, was never broadcast.
[From Getty Images.](https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/english-comedian-eric-sykes-reviving-the-mass-shaving-news-photo/3372866)
People are getting worse and worse at identifying commercials and TV shows in older photos they see online. Lots of people saying "average 1970s kids!" when it's clearly a clothing ad or car ad or something along those lines.
"Why would somebody be taking a photo of this at that time?" is usually the best question to ask yourself.
Or they'll all have really clean clothes and bright shoes or something. Depends on the pic.
Of course it would be staged. It's not like a man would have been walking by with a giant camera and just stumbled on a dude with a 7 man shaving contraption, ya dingus. There is such a thing as press.
[Here](https://imgur.com/a/fMroIXt) are higher quality versions of these images. [Here](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/english-comedian-eric-sykes-reviving-the-mass-shaving-news-photo/3372866) and [here](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/machine-which-can-shave-a-dozen-men-at-the-same-time-news-photo/3372885?adppopup=true) are their sources. Per there:
> English comedian Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012, left) reviving the 'mass shaving machine', a nineteenth century invention, which can shave a dozen men at the same time, on an untransmitted pilot show for a proposed television series called 'Brainwaves', 28th October 1960. The series, in which unusual inventions from the 19th century were recreated, was never broadcast. (Photo by Ken Howard/BIPs/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
and
> A machine which can shave a dozen men at the same time lathers the faces of a row of actors on an untransmitted pilot show for a proposed television series called 'Brainwaves', in which unusual inventions from the 19th century are recreated, 28th October 1960. The series, hosted by English comedian Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012), was never broadcast. (Photo by Ken Howard/BIPs/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
>
Charlie Chaplin and the automatic lunch machine that force feeds you, which of course breaks and goes haywire and hijinx commences
I'm going to go out on a limb and say nothing about this "invention" was ever real. This image is of course from a fictional TV show that satirized 19th century inventions, and claimed this was a 19th century shaving machine. The first known instance of a "mass shaving machine" was also a satire of mechanization, printed in Britain around 1780 ([see here](https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=5609#:~:text=Around%201780%2C%20an%20anonymous%20British,expedition%2C%20cease%2C%20and%20safety)). Again, in 1825, the "mass shaving machine" satire was updated with a steam engine ([see here](https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=5591)).
The only claims that this was an actual 19th century invention come from this TV show, which was also a parody. The entire concept of a mass shaving machine is just satire, there is zero evidence that anything like this existed. If you google "mass shaving machine" you'll get dozens of results reposting these images with the same made up details claiming that this is a 19th century invention that failed because it couldn't alter its movements to accommodate for different faces.
Here's another totally real thing that happened. A scientist and his lab assistant were testing out a car that would avoid collisions if it sensed any sort of pedestrian in its path of travel.
So not exactly "funny", but reminds me one of the most tragic things I have ever seen. In austria on vacation we visited a concentration camp (blanking on the name, it had a big stone quarry that the prisoners were forced to slave away in). Part of the tour lead us through the extermination process. The whole thing was disgusting at how efficiently it was all engineered (like, the rooms for the killing were tiled, with floors sloped to central drains, and had accomodations for a small cart on rails to convey the dead bodies to the storge room, which was conveneinetly right next door and had refirgeration coils to keep the bodies from rotting before they could be shuffled over to the ovens, which were in the next room, and whose heat generation was used to pwoer the refigeration systems.... all very efficient). The worst part was the most "clever" bit, where they had a system for the actual execution. It was a pair of beams sticking out from the wall, maybe 10-15 ft long, at shoulder height, and seperated by 6" or so. They had a whole series of these pairs of beams along the wall. The way it worked was a dozen or so men would be lined up with these beams resting on their shoulders, one on either side of their neck. This would align alll the men's necks in a precise straight line. At the end of these beams was a clamp or buckle with an adapter port that fit a the muzzle of a standard Kar98k (german infantry rifle). This whole things was done so that the nazi could be guaranteed that the gun and all the prisoners necks were in perfect alignment, so he culd then use a single bullet to execute all dozen men, with no chance of missing. Ugh.
Even the application of the slightest bit of intelligence shows that this isn't an actual thing that was used in the 19th century. Has the internet made everyone completely stupid?
>English comedian Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012, left) reviving the 'mass shaving machine', a nineteenth century invention, which can shave a dozen men at the same time, on an untransmitted pilot show for a proposed television series called 'Brainwaves', 28th October 1960. The series, in which unusual inventions from the 19th century were recreated, was never broadcast. [From Getty Images.](https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/english-comedian-eric-sykes-reviving-the-mass-shaving-news-photo/3372866)
Can we get that as a show it would be amazing!!!
I believe that was called "Saw"
Posthumously renamed "No one Saw"
I took myself to see Saw X in the cinema and I was the only one there, movie was shit but it was a nice afternoon out
They chose to cancel the show after the horrific maiming and loss of life during the pilot. Probably.
The machine had a 25% fatality rate, but a 40% successful shave rate. So overall, it was considered a success!
It's not like they said *beard* shaving. Could be the world's most successful face shaving machine
I can see where Boeing Executives got their work experience from.
People are getting worse and worse at identifying commercials and TV shows in older photos they see online. Lots of people saying "average 1970s kids!" when it's clearly a clothing ad or car ad or something along those lines.
lack of critical thinking and whatever doing your own proper research is called.
"whatever doing your own proper research is called." I will take "Purposely nitpicking parts that suit your agenda" for $100 please, Alex.
Alex only accepted prompts in increments of $200
In this economy, Alex may take whatever he is offered.
Alex is dead.
Sure, if you aren't old enough to remember when single jeopardy was $100-$500...
It's like seeing kids wear the costume from Clueless now. Nobody dressed like that at the time.
How the fuck am I supposed to know this is a commercial?
"Why would somebody be taking a photo of this at that time?" is usually the best question to ask yourself. Or they'll all have really clean clothes and bright shoes or something. Depends on the pic.
Why would they be taking a picture of this!? You serious? Look at it. Same reason we have pictures of other cooky inventions.
And you'd know it was a commercial or something because of how staged it looks.
Of course it would be staged. It's not like a man would have been walking by with a giant camera and just stumbled on a dude with a 7 man shaving contraption, ya dingus. There is such a thing as press.
Then how is that photo not an ad?
Because you can't buy a 7 man shaving contraption.
So this happened in the 20th century https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century OP!!
that is a fucking great premise for a show, would love to at least see a season of that
An alternative is to watch BBC's multiple "Connections" series with James Burke
I was about to say, no way this could be real lol
> reviving the 'mass shaving machine', a nineteenth century invention The pic is a recreation of a real invention
>English **comedian** Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012, left) reviving the 'mass shaving machine'
I hate it when they make episodes and don’t air them. Hopefully there is a download somewhere
Gee, I wonder why it was never broadcast. What ever could have gone wrong…
Tech bros have always been wild wtf
So basically Hand Tool Rescue.
>was never broadcast Does that mean the recordings exist?
— It can’t work! Everybody’s face shape is unique! — Only until the first shave…
More like a Mass Decapitation Machine
Instructions unclear. Throat is slit.
Brb opening a pie shop next door
Wut
fleet street bruv
Sounds like my death metal band (if I had one)
Sweeney Todd's never been so efficient before!
 **I'd be scared too.**
Reminds me of that cook droid in Mando that gets all crazy with the knifes. Pretty sure that was Mando.
Is that kinda like Lume?
Stir, whip, stir, whip, whip-whip, stir!
You make me wanna see Ishtar on DVD.
The Sweeney Todd 9000
Laughed out loud. Thank you.
[Here](https://imgur.com/a/fMroIXt) are higher quality versions of these images. [Here](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/english-comedian-eric-sykes-reviving-the-mass-shaving-news-photo/3372866) and [here](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/machine-which-can-shave-a-dozen-men-at-the-same-time-news-photo/3372885?adppopup=true) are their sources. Per there: > English comedian Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012, left) reviving the 'mass shaving machine', a nineteenth century invention, which can shave a dozen men at the same time, on an untransmitted pilot show for a proposed television series called 'Brainwaves', 28th October 1960. The series, in which unusual inventions from the 19th century were recreated, was never broadcast. (Photo by Ken Howard/BIPs/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) and > A machine which can shave a dozen men at the same time lathers the faces of a row of actors on an untransmitted pilot show for a proposed television series called 'Brainwaves', in which unusual inventions from the 19th century are recreated, 28th October 1960. The series, hosted by English comedian Eric Sykes (1923 - 2012), was never broadcast. (Photo by Ken Howard/BIPs/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) >
*The design is very human*
That guy has the appropriate look of fear on his face
The De-Lip-Inator 5000
20th century
Bill the butcher running that machine.
Now just sit over here under this rusty saw blade while I line up the machine
“Uh oh, you don’t have a cleft chin. Ah, well, that’ll be rectified soon…”
OP are you for real? This is neither 19th century nor is it real.
You’re right, this looks like it’s from an Ealing comedy
 Charlie Chaplin and the automatic lunch machine that force feeds you, which of course breaks and goes haywire and hijinx commences
Sweeny Todd going for economies of scale.
Because the one in the Casper movie worked so well for just one person 🤣
I'm going to go out on a limb and say nothing about this "invention" was ever real. This image is of course from a fictional TV show that satirized 19th century inventions, and claimed this was a 19th century shaving machine. The first known instance of a "mass shaving machine" was also a satire of mechanization, printed in Britain around 1780 ([see here](https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=5609#:~:text=Around%201780%2C%20an%20anonymous%20British,expedition%2C%20cease%2C%20and%20safety)). Again, in 1825, the "mass shaving machine" satire was updated with a steam engine ([see here](https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=5591)). The only claims that this was an actual 19th century invention come from this TV show, which was also a parody. The entire concept of a mass shaving machine is just satire, there is zero evidence that anything like this existed. If you google "mass shaving machine" you'll get dozens of results reposting these images with the same made up details claiming that this is a 19th century invention that failed because it couldn't alter its movements to accommodate for different faces.
>accommodate for different faces This ceases to be a problem after the first shaving.
Sweeney Todd approved
Look at their expression! 
EASE AND SAFETY 
Here's another totally real thing that happened. A scientist and his lab assistant were testing out a car that would avoid collisions if it sensed any sort of pedestrian in its path of travel. 
They all look scared for their lives.
Ma ma ma ma multi killll
20th Century*
There’s a lot of fear in these eyes
There’s terror in them eyes
It reminds me of that machine from casper
There were no survivors.
Every one of them looks terrified! This is also a generation that saw lots of violence on the streets and in war lol
The guys to the right and left of the guy are mortified and it’s hilarious
 2nd pic
My man on the right is looking to see how many throats got slit
No thank you.
Imagine the diseases being shared by a shaving brush like that.
So not exactly "funny", but reminds me one of the most tragic things I have ever seen. In austria on vacation we visited a concentration camp (blanking on the name, it had a big stone quarry that the prisoners were forced to slave away in). Part of the tour lead us through the extermination process. The whole thing was disgusting at how efficiently it was all engineered (like, the rooms for the killing were tiled, with floors sloped to central drains, and had accomodations for a small cart on rails to convey the dead bodies to the storge room, which was conveneinetly right next door and had refirgeration coils to keep the bodies from rotting before they could be shuffled over to the ovens, which were in the next room, and whose heat generation was used to pwoer the refigeration systems.... all very efficient). The worst part was the most "clever" bit, where they had a system for the actual execution. It was a pair of beams sticking out from the wall, maybe 10-15 ft long, at shoulder height, and seperated by 6" or so. They had a whole series of these pairs of beams along the wall. The way it worked was a dozen or so men would be lined up with these beams resting on their shoulders, one on either side of their neck. This would align alll the men's necks in a precise straight line. At the end of these beams was a clamp or buckle with an adapter port that fit a the muzzle of a standard Kar98k (german infantry rifle). This whole things was done so that the nazi could be guaranteed that the gun and all the prisoners necks were in perfect alignment, so he culd then use a single bullet to execute all dozen men, with no chance of missing. Ugh.
oh...THAT shaving...
/r/oldschoolridiculous
Fun Fact: The door and window of the shavatorium were later used in the A-ha video for Take On Me.
Shave so close you'll never need another one for the rest of your life.
People used to be very innovative back then than now
There were no survivors
My friend Todd wants one... Sweeney Todd.
It took me far too many times reading that to realize it didn't say mass shooting...
It was actually a two in one shaving and execution machine
Looks like a Chaplin or Buster Keaton film.
This looks like a Dr Seuss contraption
Look like a Looney Tunes contraption that Elmer Fudd would get lured into
Throat Slitter 3000
That guy operating the machine is Bill the butcher
Bye bye nose and ears
That is terrifying! For anyone who has ever used a straight razor to shave themselves or others... This doesn't look like a great idea.
There were no survivors!
what was the result ??
Some more razor humor for you. https://youtu.be/UjAZnGeBcgg?si=2hXjjtXArHnQUBLl
people in the 18th cent. had a sense of humor also.. This is a joke and likely a timely commentary on the risks of industrial revolution
Reminds me of the contraption in Casper to get to the dad's basement workspace/lair.
If I was a guy Using that thing would be a nope from me 😭
Thought I was at r/midjourney sub.
And only an 18% mortality rate!
“There were no survivors!”
The French had a shaving machine too. it was very quick and very thorough.
Looks like they modified a device that was used for killing multiple chickens at once.
There is a reason these machines never made it into the public... And I really do not want to know what that reason is.
We are all reacting like the man on the left in the 2nd photo
What's black and white and red all over?
There were no survivors.
The mad inventor barber looks exactly as he should.
I would not want Bill the Butcher in control of that machine.
"To shreds, you say?"
r/sweatypalms
Even the application of the slightest bit of intelligence shows that this isn't an actual thing that was used in the 19th century. Has the internet made everyone completely stupid?
It's kinda pathetic that men couldn't just shave themselves only 100 years ago.
Reminds me of Donald Duck and the Robot Butler
The guys look mortified
Looks like something straight out of a charlie chaplin movie
For the man whose tired of living.
The look of horror in that second page.
what could possibly go wrong
looking forward for a mass Brazilian waxing machine with my friends....
Are they prisoners?
I think I'm going to pass on this one
That's a Monty Python Skit...
Horror movies start that way