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Timmins & Sons (Manufacturer)

This is a pair of metal barber's curling tongs with heavy flat ends which were used, when heated, for curling hair. They were made by R. Timmins & Sons and date from the nineteenth century.

1 pair of curling tongs: metal (steel); good condition

MERL Object Handling Research, Rachael Rogers, December 2019 - 'This is a metal barber’s curling tong with heavy flat ends which were used, when heated, for the curling of hair or wigs. They were made by R. Timmins & Sons and date from the nineteenth century. // Hair irons have been around for centuries, with appliances for the straightening and curling of hair and wigs first used by ancient civilisations including the Persians, Greeks, and Egyptians. Iron or bronze rods were heated over a fire to produce curled and crimped styles. By the mid-19th century, designs of this style were becoming increasingly popular. In 1872, French hairdresser Marcel Grateau became known as the official inventor of the curling iron, inventing, in the process, the style known as the ‘Marcel Wave’, as well as inventing hot combs for the straightening of hair. // Whilst today we are used to electric hair irons, in the 19th century, historically, metal alternatives such as this had to be manually heated. Whilst ancient civilisations would have used fire, as time moved forward, technological advances made this process far more up to date and practical. This advertisement from an 1895 edition of Montgomery, Ward & Co. catalogue shows both a chimney stove and a curling iron heater. The curling iron heater features an alcohol lamp, a common feature of similar products during the nineteenth century. Whilst some curling irons would have wooden handles, with nickel and floral embellishments used for more expensive models, those that did not, such as this example, would require the user to wear protective gloves. // During the early nineteenth century, curling irons would have been largely used by the nobility and wealthier members of society. As time moved on, however, and the styling of hair became more popular and commonplace within society, so did more affordable options for hair styling become available on the mass market. More elaborate and expensive styles featured nickel-plated handles and floral embellishments, whilst cheaper versions had either wooden or simply metal handles. // R. Timmins & Sons were established in Birmingham in 1790. They were known as a steel and toy business, as can be seen from the advertisement below, which highlights the wide range of items the company manufactured.', Victoria & Albert Museum No. M301, 1917.

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century