KAMPFE BROS. STAR SAFETY RAZOR, c. 1895

The Star Safety Razor was designed and patented by the Kampfe Brothers, Frederick (1851-1915), Richard (1853-1906), and Otto F. (1855-1932). The innovative men’s product, shown above, even came complete with a leather case and informational booklet. First manufactured in 1875, the Kampfe Brothers’ product revolutionized shaving, by making it possible for men to safely shave at home. Before their invention, shaving was something only done by trained barbers.

WILLIAM S. HART LANTERN SLIDE, 1920

William Surrey Hart (1865-1946), or “Two-Gun Bill,” was a Silent Film actor often considered as the first great Western Movie Star. Known for his unique screen presence, Hart developed a signature persona: the honest, taciturn Cowboy. He insisted on bringing authenticity to his roles, believing that earlier filmmakers had glamourized the West. This lantern slide advertises the 1920 film The Toll Gate, credited as the first of William S. Hart’s own productions. It depicts Hart in his signature two-gun cowboy role.

Help Us Amuse The Masses!

The clock is ticking! Our Kickstarter campaign, to raise money for our upcoming exhibition, “William F. Mangels: Amusing the Masses on Coney Island and Beyond,” telling the story of the ingenious amusement park ride inventor who became the largest manufacturer of such rides in America, has only 10 days left. For more background on this, … Read more

CHAPEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PHOTOGRAPH, 1911

Green-Wood’s beautiful limestone chapel was designed in the Gothic-Revival style by the architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore, who also designed Grand Central Terminal. The image above is one of a series of photographs taken of Green-Wood’s historic chapel during construction. Dated July 6, 1911, it shows the foundation completed and the side walls erected, but the decorative spires of the top four corners are unfinished and workers have not yet begun building the central dome. The chapel would not be completed in its entirety until later that year.

CANDA MONUMENT, STEREOVIEW CARD, Late 19th Century

This white marble memorial is dedicated to Charlotte Canda (1828-1845), a young Victorian socialite who died tragically on the evening of her 17th birthday. Amazingly, Canda had been designing a monument for her recently deceased aunt. After her untimely death, her father adapted the design for Charlotte’s monument, and personalized it by adding her initials, a portrait statue, and various symbols of her interests during life. This stereoview card shows the main section of Charlotte’s grand monument.