L’Artiste Capillaire – The Barber from 1904 number 196

From the magazine Soleil du dimanche dec. 1905

Produced from 1904
Product number 196
Hand lacquered
Mechanism: Clockwork
Height approx. 24cm / 9,44 inches

How it works: After winding up the clockwork, the barber will alternately move both arms, the arm with the lotion bottle will suggest that he apply lotion to the customer’s bald head and with the other hand he will suggest that he rub the lotion over the head.

This toy was produced for a long time and therefore not all models are dressed the same, there are different hairstyles of the hairdresser himself and there are also different versions of the bottle used in metal and in wood.

Original box

On the box and on the original catalog page from the 1908 states that this toy won a medal at the “Concours Lépine” in 1902,
Martin bought the rights for this toy at this “Concours Lépine” from Mr. Noguier

I took this photo myself in 2002 at the home of my old friend Arthur Verdoorn who passed away in 2017 (He was co-creator of the book Fernand Martin Toymaker in Paris) This setup is now on display in the “Spielmuseum” in Soltau Germany
the clockwork inside the barber

Most of the clockwork at Martin usually had the same basis, only the functions for the movements were slightly adapted per toy model

The barber alone, this figure was later used by Charles Flersheim for his conductor: Chef D’orchestre – Number 234
Page from the original 1908 catalog

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