On this day in 1895 the patent for the Mustache Adjuster was granted. U. S. Patent No. 549,148.
The Mustache-Adjuster was invented by James Joseph McCallum, from Belleville, in the country of Hastings, in the Providence of Ontario Canada. This patent application was granted on November 5, 1895 as U.S. Patent No. 549,148. This invention was also granted to James Joseph McCallum in the Dominion of Canada under date of March 4, 1895 No. 48,326.
The Mustache-Adjuster is designed to maintain the bottom of the moustache free from lips when eating and drinking during meals; and it consists, essentially, of a comb of peculiar form designed to be inserted in the mustache and provided with outwardly-extending spring-fingers centrally hinged.
Mr. McCallum states that “the Mustache-Adjuster will consequently be seen that the user of my adjuster may very conveniently at meal-time drink tea or soup or other similar beverages without having his mustache dripping and looking very disgusting, as is very common with gentlemen burdened with an excessive growth of hair on the upper lip.”
We have come a long way in the means of grooming mustaches and facial hair but this invention, even though patented in 1895, still holds significant relevance in today’s time. Facial hair has always been prevalent throughout history from Vikings to Hippies but facial hair has definitely made a noteworthy comeback; gone are the days of clean shaving. The current trend is leaning more towards mustaches and facial hair, whether that be the handlebar mustache, the Fu Manchu, or 5 o’clock shadow, facial hair is back and in a very creative stylish way. There has been a significant surge in the inventions and products that are used to maintain facial hair as well. There are pomades, special tools for shaping and trimming in addition to inventions created to keep clean up neat and easy.
Mustaches have made such a comeback they are being featured on reality television shows. There are even competitions for the grooming and length of them.
