Q: Who was the "king" of modern shaving, well known to many a World War I soldier?

A: Make that King Camp Gillette (1855-1932), American inventor and businessman who in 1901, along with William Nickerson, introduced the disposable blade, some 25 years after the first safety razor, says Jack Challoner in "1001 Inventions That Changed the World." Before the invention of the safety razor, the dangers in shaving were evident in the traditional terminology of the straight "cut-throat" razor, with shaving done by barbers or trusted family members. Defying those skeptics who believed it impossible, Gillette fashioned an ultra-thin, carbon steel, double-edged blade and eventually struck a deal to provide safety razors and blades to every member of the U.S. Army during World War I.

Later innovations included the electric--or dry--shaver by Jacob Schick (1928), the long-lasting stainless steel blade by the British company Wilkenson Sword (1965), then even safer replaceable blade cartridges (1971) and entirely disposable razors (1971). Currently on the drawing board are eco-friendly recyclable and biodegradable razors.

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